Fiji: Sitiveni 'Rambo' Rabuka returns as PM after 23 years

Former military commander Sitiveni Rabuka was on Saturday confirmed as Fiji's prime minister, after accusing the outgoing government of stoking "fear and chaos" to derail his return to power.

The 74-year-old won the nomination by one vote over incumbent Frank Bainimarama at a sitting of the Fijian Parliament in Suva.

Rabuka, the head of the People’s Alliance Party, was elevated to the position after forming a majority coalition with two other parties following last week's close and contentious election.

He will be officially sworn in later Saturday at Government House.

The tripartite coalition had announced on Tuesday its intention to form a government with a combined 29 seats compared to the 26 held by Bainimarama’s Fiji First Party.

The People’s Alliance Party and affiliated National Federation Party shared 26 seats but were able to form an alliance with the Social Democrat Liberal Party to break the deadlock.

But Bainimarama, who had served as Fiji’s prime minister for almost 16 years, refused to concede the election results in the days following the polls.

Rabuka, a two-time coup leader and former prime minister -- nicknamed "Rambo" -- narrowly triumphed over Bainimarama by 28 votes to 27 in a secret ballot held in parliament, speaker Naiqama Lalabalavu announced.

A smiling Bainimarama appeared to accept defeat as he told reporters after the vote: "This is democracy".

A chorus of cars honked in celebration as they drove past the parliamentary building in the capital Suva.

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New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern congratulated Rabuka in a statement.

"We strongly value Fiji as a close friend and partner as we progress our shared priorities for the region," she said.

Fiji is one of the most populous and prosperous Pacific island nations, and has grown closer to China under Bainimarama.

Rabuka has signalled a willingness to shift away from Beijing in favour of traditional allies Australia and New Zealand.

The military had been deployed on the streets of Suva as Rabuka and Bainimarama raced to cobble together a coalition government following a deadlocked general election.

Citing unsubstantiated reports of ethnic violence, Bainimarama said the military was needed to maintain "law and order".

But Rabuka -- who served as prime minister between 1992 and 1999 -- said the government was "sowing fear and chaos" and "trying to set the nation alight along racial lines".

(with AFP and AP inputs)