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Last Updated: Apr 9, 2007 - 12:46:40 AM |
Fiji's indigenous leader Laisenia Qarase has claimed a close victory in the country's racially polarised elections.
By the official count, Qarase's ruling SDL party had won 32 of the 71 parliamentary seats on Wednesday morning with 10 seats yet to be declared.
The opposition Fiji Labour Party of former prime minister Mahendra Chaudhry had 25 seats, two went to SDL-linked independents and one to a Labour ally.
A radio network projected the SDL would control 37-38 seats and Labour 33 or 34.
"We will have a working majority and that's good enough," Qarase told the network.
"I would like to acknowledge the hand of God for the victory.
"I believe God has a plan for Fiji and the SDL is part of that plan for Fiji."
Qarase said he would invite Labour to join a coalition government as required under Fiji's constitution but would prefer it stayed in opposition.
He said the proviso that any party with more than 10% of the vote must be represented in government does not make sense in a democracy because there would be no opposition.
Victory would give the SDL another five-year term leading the racially divided Pacific nation, which has seen three coups in the past 20 years.
Chaudhry's second failure in a row to reclaim power taken from him in the 2000 coup will ease fears of a repeat occurrence.
People voted strictly along racial lines, with indigenous Fijians heavily supporting the SDL and minority Indo-Fijians backing Labour.
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