Thursday, May 18 2006 13:01 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Suva: Fiji's president today (May 18, 2006) swore in nationalist leader Laisenia Qarase for a second, five-year term as prime minister of the racially divided South Pacific nation following his narrow election win over an ethnic Indian rival.

Qarase took his oath of office at Government House in the capital, Suva, shortly after election officials confirmed his Soqosoqo Duavata ni Lewenivanua (SDL) party, won 36 seats in the 71-member Parliament following May 6-13 parliamentary elections.

Qarase said earlier he also had secured the written commitments of support from two independent lawmakers, which would give him a majority of 38 seats.

The opposition Fiji Labour Party, led by former prime minister Mahendra Chaudhry, an ethnic Indian who was ousted in a 2000 coup by armed Fijian nationalists, won 31 seats in thetightly contested election. Labour has the support of twolawmakers from the allied United Peoples' Party.