Fiji Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama looks increasingly likely to stay in power following the country's general election, with preliminary results giving his FijiFirst party a slim majority and putting it well ahead of rivals.
The Pacific nation on Wednesday went to the polls for the second time since Mr Bainimarama seized control in a military coup in 2006.
With about three quarters of polling stations counted, provisional results on Thursday morning put FijiFirst on 51.6 per cent of the total vote, with the Social Democratic Liberal Party, led by former PM Sitiveni Rabuka, second on 38 per cent.
The margin is significantly tighter than the last election in 2014, in which FijiFirst won almost 60 per cent of the vote.
The third-placed National Federation Party is on 7.5 per cent. There are six parties running this year for 51 proportionally-allocated seats.
The final count has now begun, with the allocation of seats in parliament scheduled for later in the week.
Heavy rain suppressed the election day turnout and authorities had to close dozens of polling stations early because of flooding. Nearly 8000 affected voters will vote shortly, while more than 200 stations and early postal votes were yet to be counted.
Turnout in the country of more than 900,000 ranged from 53 to 61 per cent across districts, the Elections Office said.
Police reported no major issues.
Bainimarama has campaigned on the continuation of strong economic growth, relative political stability and improved social services in Fiji, and polling ahead of the vote had him as favourite.
Some critics, however, have branded the 64-year-old authoritarian. Poverty also remains widespread and opposition leaders have promised to raise the minimum wage.
Mr Rabuka - who himself led two coups in 1987 - also voiced concerns about large debts owed by Fiji to China.
While Mr Bainimarama's government moved closer to China in response to Western sanctions after he took power in 2006, Fiji's relationship with Australia has grown significantly stronger in recent years.
With a history of coups in recent decades and two former military strongmen running, police in recent weeks have talked down the possibility of tension. The military said it would respect the final outcome.
Mr Rabuka was questioned by police on Saturday night and only cleared on Monday afternoon to stand after a government appeal over his earlier acquittal on financial declaration charges with dismissed.
Australian Associated Press
