ultimatum, demanding Speight release the hostages and lay down his arms, and in return promising an amnesty. Following the breakdown in negotiations the international community began to apply pressure. On 7 June 2000 the Commonwealth of Nations suspended Fiji. The European Union threatened to ban Fijian sugar if Fiji gave in to Speight's demands. On 14 June the New Zealand government applied a travel ban to Speight and 84 of his associates, as well as Fijian sports teams. Australia followed with a sporting ban. Unionised Australian workers refused to load Fijian cargo. On 12 June the military fired warning shots at Speight's vehicle at a checkpoint as he was returning to parliament from talks. Speight called it "a failed assassination attempt", and refused to attend future negotiation sessions. Despite this, negotiations continued through intermediaries. On 18 June the military agreed to some of Speight's nominees for the interim government, and Speight released four female hostages as a sign of good faith. Negotiations then deadlocked on the issue of the presidency, with Speight backtracking on an initial agreement for the president to be nominated by the Great Council of Chiefs and demanding instead that Ratu Josefa Iloilo be sworn in immediately. The military issued another ultimatum, which was rejected. On 3 July 2000 Bainimarama named Laisenia Qarase as Prime Minister, heading an all-indigenous Fijian government. Speight was outraged by the decision, and a gun-battle broke out at Parliament the next day in which five people were injured. Chaos escalated, and rebels staged a number of incidents around the country. Soldiers at the Sukunaivalu Barracks in Labasa mutinied and declared support for Speight. Local landowners took over the Monasavu Dam, cutting power to Suva. On 8 July rebels blocked the road between Suva and Nadi and stormed a police station in Korovou, taking 30 hostages. At Naboro Prison, 50 inmates rioted, taking guards hostage. On 9 July Speight signed the Muanikau Accord with the military, agreeing to release the hostages in exchange for an amnesty for himself. All his key demands had been met. Nine hostages were released on 12 July, and the remainder were released the next day after Iloilo was named president by the Great Council of Chiefs. Following the return of hostages and weapons, Speight and his followers moved to Kalabu Fijian School on the outskirts of Suva. Speight continued to lobby over the makeup of the interim cabinet,