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Fiji election chief admits to hitches

WELLINGTON (NEW ZEALAND): The general election in Fiji has been generally smooth on the fifth day of voting on Thursday, with the election chief rejecting the Opposition's accusations of voting fraud. However, Supervisor of Elections Semesa Karavaki admitted the week-long ballot had suffered administrative errors.

According to the local news service the Fijilive, Mr. Karavaki denied claims that a large number of ballot papers had disappeared. The local news paper The Daily Post said confusion continued to surround polling stations, even as it passed the half-way mark.

It reported that more than 1,000 persons were turned away from polling stations across the country because there were no ballot papers. Others could not vote because officials did not have the electoral rolls. Election observers from the University of the South Pacific predicted it could take two to three months for the volatile political situation to settle. — Xinhua

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