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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Fiji coup leader Frank Bainimarama faces election | Fiji coup leader Frank Bainimarama faces election |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| Fiji's coup leader and former military ruler Frank Bainimarama is facing voters in the first election since he seized power in 2006. | |
| Some 590,000 registered voters are electing a 50-seat parliament, choosing from about 250 candidates. | Some 590,000 registered voters are electing a 50-seat parliament, choosing from about 250 candidates. |
| The party of Mr Bainimarama, who quit as military chief to contest the polls, is expected to win the most seats. | The party of Mr Bainimarama, who quit as military chief to contest the polls, is expected to win the most seats. |
| The polls are being keenly watched by the international community, which has been urging a return to democracy. | The polls are being keenly watched by the international community, which has been urging a return to democracy. |
| Ahead of the polls, Fijian President Epeli Nailatikau cautioned against violence. | |
| "I urge all political parties and their supporters not to intimidate anyone or engage in any untoward activity," he said. | "I urge all political parties and their supporters not to intimidate anyone or engage in any untoward activity," he said. |
| "We must all accept the will of the people and unify as a nation." | "We must all accept the will of the people and unify as a nation." |
| As voting got under way, long queues formed at polling stations. | |
| "This is a historic election," Suva taxi driver Anil Kumar told the Associated Press news agency. "I'm excited that I will be able to cast my vote. I'm looking forward to it." | |
| 'Climate of fear' | 'Climate of fear' |
| Fiji experienced four coups between 1987 and 2006. | Fiji experienced four coups between 1987 and 2006. |
| Mr Bainimarama has ruled Fiji since ousting elected leader Laisenia Qarase in the most recent of them. | Mr Bainimarama has ruled Fiji since ousting elected leader Laisenia Qarase in the most recent of them. |
| Mr Bainimarama says he wants to end tensions between indigenous Fijians and ethnic Indians at the heart of the political unrest. | |
| To that end he has reformed the electoral process, ending the race-based communal voting system. | To that end he has reformed the electoral process, ending the race-based communal voting system. |
| But in the past eight years he has also ruled with an iron grip, clamping down on free speech, compromising the judiciary and imposing media censorship. | |
| In a recent report, rights group Amnesty International accused him of creating a "climate of fear" in Fiji through his use of draconian laws, and intimidation and harassment of government critics. | In a recent report, rights group Amnesty International accused him of creating a "climate of fear" in Fiji through his use of draconian laws, and intimidation and harassment of government critics. |
| Critics also suggest that Mr Bainimarama, whose FijiFirst party is one of seven contesting the polls, has enjoyed a campaigning advantage because of the lack of any formal political opposition. | |
| The Social Democratic Liberal Party (Sodelpa), led by indigenous Fijians, is seen as FijiFirst's closest rival. | The Social Democratic Liberal Party (Sodelpa), led by indigenous Fijians, is seen as FijiFirst's closest rival. |
| Asked if he would accept the election result, even if he lost, Mr Bainimarama said: "I'm not going to lose, I will win, so you ask that question to the other parties." | |
| Official results are not expected for several days but a preliminary count could come in the early hours of Thursday. |