WELLINGTON, May 16 (Xinhua) -- Fijian President Ratu Josefa Iloilo Tuesday urged voters to accept the results of the general election.

    Manual counting of votes began Monday, and all the results are expected to be available by Wednesday.

    The counting will continue throughout the night, said Supervisor of Elections Semesa Karavaki.

    Racial tension between the Indigenous Fijians and the ethnic Indian population has divided the country and sparked three coups since 1987.

    The military is backing the president's call to accept the outcome of the election.

    Radio New Zealand reports said Fijian military has stressed "it will ensure whoever comes in as Prime Minister to form the new Government remains in office."

    More than 100,000 registered voters did not cast their votes during the 2006 general elections, said local news service The Fijilive.

    It said the Elections Office confirmed that of the 496,000 provisionally registered voters, only 298,834 cast their votes over the seven polling days.

    During the 2001 General Elections, 360,000 of the 460,000 voters cast their votes.

    And 71 seats are at stake for a five-year term. Enditem