Nationalist sworn in as Fiji PM

The new prime minister has yet to form a government

A nationalist hardliner, Laisenia Qarase, has been sworn in as the new prime minister of Fiji, ending the interim administration he was appointed to lead by the military after last year's coup.

His appointment follows Fiji's first elections since its last democratic leader, the ethnic Indian Mahendra Chaudhry, was ousted by an indigenous gang 15 months ago.

Election results

Total: 71 seats

Qarase's SDL: 31

Chaudhry's FLP: 27

MV: six

New Labour Unity Party: Two

Independents: Two

United General Party and the National Federation Party: One each

One seat vacant

Mr Qarase has invited Mr Chaudhry, his main political rival, to join the new government, as he is obliged to do so under the Fijian constitution, but at the same time appealed to Mr Chaudhry not to accept any posts.

"I have made no secret that I would be happy if he did not accept because it would be an unworkable government," Qarase told reporters.

Mr Chaudhry, who leads the ethnic Indian Labour party, says he will take up Mr Qarase's offer but as an opposition group within the government.

Commenting on his decision to join the cabinet, Mr Chaudhry said: "If you could be in government, what fool in politics would want to be in the opposition?"

Divided government

Under Fiji's constitution, which was designed to promote multi-party government, Mr Chaudhry's party is entitled to up to 46% of ministerial positions.

Mahendra Chaudhry was Fiji's last elected prime minister

Mr Chaudhry's party won 27 out of 71 parliamentary seats, while Mr Qarase's nationalist Fijian People's Party (SDL) won 31, failing to secure an outright majority.

Mr Chaudhry says he will challenge the election results in court, accusing indigenous Fijians of ballot-rigging.

The BBC's Phil Mercer in the Fijian capital, Suva, says such an arrangement would mean the new administration would be divided like no other in Fiji's political history.

It is still unclear who Mr Qarase's other coalition partners will be. The balance of power in parliament is held by a small group of moderates and ultra-nationalists.

Mr Qarase faces a tough challenge - Fiji's economy is in depression and the racial divide that led to the coup is as deep as ever.

Seeking coalition

Mr Qarase's swearing-in was held at the old colonial Government House in the capital Suva and was conducted by President Josefa Iloilo.

The elections left Fiji in political limbo

Speaking after the ceremony, Mr Qarase said that in the next 48 hours he would be making recommendations as to who the other members of his cabinet would be.

"It will be a very strong cabinet with a lot of talent and a lot of experience and we will be ready to move Fiji forward," he said.

In May 2000, gunmen led by businessman George Speight deposed Mr Chaudhry and laid siege to the nation's parliament, demanding a decisive governmental role for ethnic Fijians.

Mr Speight, who is now in prison awaiting trial for treason. His Conservative Alliance Matanitu Vanua (MV) nationalist group won six seats in the election.