Fiji's caretaker Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase said Sunday his party - the Soqosoqo Duavata ni Lewenivanua party (SDL) will win the general elections and form government once more.

Speaking to local news service The Fijilive, Qarase said SDL had gained in support since the 2001 elections and all indications were that they would return to power with majority seats.

"The support for SDL was evident during polling around the country last week," he said.

Local Political analyst Steven Ratuva disagreed, saying that if the SDL were to win, it would be a narrow victory.

Fiji's seven-day election ended on Saturday, with the first results being available on Monday.

Twelve parties are trying to win seats in the 71-member parliament.

Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase's party SDL and the Labour party are expected to win the majority of the seats.

Voters cast two ballots - one for an "open" seat and one for a representative of their own community.

Twenty-five seats in the parliament are "open", and the rest are reserved for different ethnic groups. Twenty-three are reserved for indigenous Fijians and 19 for ethnic Indians, and the rest for the other minor ethnic groups.

Fiji Labour Party leader Mahendra Chaudhry refused to comment on his party's chances.

The final outcome expected by mid-night Tuesday, Election Commissioner Semesa Karavaki said.

He said that despite the continuous criticisms directed at election officials, he "is adamant" that the count centers in the four divisions will produce early results.

Despite the media report of a historically low turnout, Karavaki said he was confident that voter turnout this year would exceed figures in the previous general election in 2001, which saw over 70 percent of voters turn up.

Nearly 480,000 are registered to vote this year.

Source: Xinhua