Fiji's opposition leader Sitiveni Rabuka is expected to become prime minister when parliament sits on Saturday after winning backing from a coalition of three parties, signalling an end to Frank Bainimarama's 16 years in power.
Fiji has been pivotal to the strategically located South Pacific's response to increasing competition for influence between China and the United States and Rabuka has said he favours Western-style democracy.
The military was called in to assist police maintain law and order on Thursday after Bainimarama and the head of police said there had been attacks on the Indian ethnic minority in the wake of a nationalOpposition parties accused Bainimarama and his allies of stoking fears of ethnic trouble as a pretext to cling to power. Bainimarama has yet to concede defeat.
Rabuka has previously said he favours close ties with Australia and supported western-style democracy, while SODELPA has said it is a Christian party that wants Fiji to open an embassy in Jerusalem. Addressing media after the meeting ended, SODELPA leader Viliame Gavoka said SODELPA's board had voted 13-12 in favour of forming a coalition with People's Alliance and National Federation Party.
SODELPA supports policies favouring indigenous Fijians, while Rabuka's coalition partner, National Federation Party, has drawn support from the Indian community.
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