Bainimarama proclaims victory in Fiji poll

Coup leader Voreqe Bainimarama declared himself the new Prime Minister of the Pacific nation today and promised "genuine democracy" and to work for all Fijians.
Following the first democratic election in eight years, he pledged to govern "for the well-being of all Fijians", saying the country had "embraced a new future" after a series of coups sparked by ethnic tensions that rocked the islands.
Although the final count from Wednesday's election has not been released, provisional results showed Bainimarama's Fiji First Party heading towards a clear victory.
"My fellow Fijians, as you know Fiji First has won the general elections and I will lead the new government to serve the nation," he told thousands of cheering supporters gathered in a sports stadium.

"I am deeply honoured and humbled that the Fijian people have put their trust in me to lead them into our new and true democracy."
The former military strongman's victory declaration came after the Fiji Electoral Office put Fiji First on 59.1 percent after votes had been counted at 88 percent of the polling booths.

This would give Fiji First 32 seats in the 50-seat parliament. The Social Democratic Liberal Party was a distant second at 28.3 percent.
"I give you my absolute promise that we will govern for the well-being of all Fijians," Bainimarama said.
"I am the prime minister for all Fijians. We have a vision of a prosperous, modern and an inclusive Fiji and we intend to achieve it.

"This is a victory for all Fijians, this is when history will record that as a nation we have embraced a new future."
Bainimarama said he would head to New York in the coming days to attend the United Nations General Assembly and "tell the world what we have just accomplished in Fiji.
"It will be a landmark occasion, because I promised the nation of Fiji and the international community that I will take Fiji to the first genuine democracy in our history and I have kept that promise.
In his speech today he specifically singled out the military "who have stood for the ideal of true democracy" as he acknowledged "their vision, their perseverance and their sacrifice"

The 60-year-old Bainimarama seized power in a bloodless coup in December 2006 saying he needed to end widespread corruption and root out entrenched discrimination against ethnic Indians, who make up about 40 percent of the 900,000 population.