WELLINGTON, May 16 (Xinhua) -- Fiji's major parties are reported to be neck and neck of counting Tuesday after general election, according to Radio New Zealand.
The ruling SDL has won 14 seats to the opposition Fiji Labor Party's 13 in the 71-seat Parliament, Radio New Zealand said, adding votes "appear to be following traditional racial loyalties."
Indigenous Fijian constituencies declared so far have gone to the SDL of caretaker Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase and all Indo-Fijian electorates have fallen to Mahendra Chaudry's Labor Party.
However, the caretaker government lost two seats to opposition or independent candidates in the communal seats of minority races.
One victim was caretaker Labor Minister Kenneth Zinck, an independent who served in the SDL-led government. He has lost his general communal seat to the United People's Party, a Labor ally.
No results have been declared in the 25 open constituencies in which all races vote and where the election is likely to be decided.
Official said all the results should be available by Wednesday. Enditem |