Growing race tensions dominate Fiji elections

FIJI’S prime minister clashed with the military on the eve of a racially charged election in the unstable South Pacific nation after the armed forces chief urged his troops yesterday not to vote for the government.

Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase’s uneasy relationship with military chief Frank Bainimarama has added to election tensions in a county which has suffered three racially-motivated coups and a mutiny since 1987.

Bainimarama accuses Qarase of being soft on the leaders of a 2000 coup which ultimately led to Qarase’s indigenous Soqosoqo Duavata ni Lewenivanua (SDL) party gaining power at the last elections in 2001.