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Ruling party, Opposition neck and neck in Fiji poll

Qarase, Chaudhry express confidence about victory

SUVA (Fiji): The leaders of Fiji's main political parties predicted they would win power on Tuesday as counting in the country's general election continued.

With results declared for 44 seats in the 71-member Parliament, caretaker Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase's ruling Soqosoqo Duavata ni Lewenivanua (SDL) party had 22 seats and the main Opposition Labour Party had 19 seats.

Speaking on private radio on Tuesday afternoon, Labour leader Mahendra Chaudhry said he was optimistic that his party and its two coalition partners would have enough seats to form the next government.

Mr. Qarase said he had reduced his estimate of the tally of seats his party would win after it performed badly in Indian-dominated electorates. ``Instead of the 42 seats initially predicted, I am confident of obtaining 37 now,'' he said.

A tally of 37 seats would be enough to secure Mr. Qarase a second five-year term.

Labour ally, the United People's Party, had taken one seat in this racially divided South Pacific nation's general election and two independent candidates had also taken seats.

Minutes after his surprise victory, independent Robin Urwin told Fiji Television he would support Mr. Qarase's SDL.

``I'm an investor here in Fiji and I will side with a pro-investor party,'' the British born veterinarian said.

Supervisor of elections, Semesa Karavaki, said he was confident all results would be declared by Tuesday night. A new government in Fiji could be formed by the weekend.

Mr. Qarase, fighting for a second consecutive term, held his own seat in his remote Lau island constituency with a massive 93 per cent majority of the votes cast. The election pitted Mr. Qarase — an indigenous Fijian incumbent who is struggling for power with the country's military chief — against ethnic Indian Opposition leader Mr. Chaudhry. — AP

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