Fiji's Prime Mnister Laisenia Qarase holds a news conference after being sworn in at Government House in the capital of Fiji, Suva May 18, 2006. (Xinhua/Reuters)

    WELLINGTON, May 18 (Xinhua) -- Fiji caretaker Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase said he will form the new government Thursday after he pays President Ratu Josefa Iloilo a visit the same day.

    But military forces Commander Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama, whose standpoint is very sensitive for the country's situation, said he is still waiting for the final results.

    The election website of local newspaper Fiji Times shows that amongst 12 parties pursuing 71 Parliament seats, Qarase's Soqosoqo Duavata Ni Lewenivanua (SDL) has obtained 36, the Fiji Labour Party 31, independents two, and United People's Party two.

    But the official result of last week's election had not been declared so far.
     
    The two independents seem now to be the "kingmaker", and if theSDL get their support, it will control 38 seats against 33 for its main rival, the ethnic Indian-dominated Fijian Labour Party, whose leader Mahendra Chaudhry has refused to concede defeat so far, and its two United People's Party allies.

    And Qarase said he had received written commitments of support from two independent lawmakers, giving him a narrow majority. 
    

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    This has not been confirmed so far by the two independent lawmakers.

    According to local news service the Fijilive, Qarase told reporters in the Fiji capital, Suva, that he expected to be re-appointed for a second five-year term by the President later Thursday after a planned meeting with the President.

    Regarding his meeting with Ratu Josefa at Government House which currently has not taken place, Qarase said if the President agreed to him being re-elected Prime Minister, he would ask "be sworn in by this (Thursday) afternoon."

    "After the swearing in, I will contact the Fiji Labour Party leader Mahendra Chaudhry and invite them over to join my government. But whether they join my government or not is their choice," said Qarase.

    Labour Party leader Chaudhry could not be reached for a commenton the issue.

    But Fiji military forces Commander Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama said he will not make any comment before the final results is officially released.

    "We will make our comment once they have given all the results and we have who has won," said Commodore Bainimarama.

    The military has a long-running feud with Qarase over the possible release of coup convicts under a proposed Reconciliation and Unity bill.

    Commodore Bainimarama had said last week that he will back all the election results, while now according to local reports, the army chief has indicated his standpoint on the election result.

    Speaking on Fiji's Radio Legend he said numbers in the ballot box did not equate with good governance.

    He said Qarase had already been attacking the military.

    "I don't think that is going to auger well for the nation," the commodore added. Enditem