Fiji PM claims election victory

Fijian Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase is claiming a narrow victory in general elections.

With 61 of the 71 parliamentary seats declared, Mr Qarase's SDL party has won 32, four short of an absolute majority.

He has told local radio that he is confident he will end up with a "workable majority".

The opposition Fiji Labour Party has won 25 seats and its coalition partner, the United Peoples Party, has garnered two.

Labour Party leader, Mahendra Chaudry, has easily retained his parliamentary seat of Ba, winning 63 per cent of the vote.

A leading Labour politician, Krishna Datt, has told the Fiji Broadcasting Corporation that Labour will pick up a number of the seats still to be declared.

However, he says if Mr Qarase does become prime minister again, he hopes he will offer the Labour Party a proper coalition deal as provided for in the country's multi-racial constitution.

- RADIO AUSTRALIA