Main players in Fiji's election

LAISENIA QARASE

By staff and wire reports

Fiji's indigenous caretaker prime minister Qarase comes from a bureaucratic and finance background. He was appointed under the deal between Fiji's military and nationalist rebels holding Chaudhry hostage.

Qarase says he has no long-term political ambitions but in June launched the Fijian United Party. He has said Fiji will not be ready for another ethnic Indian leader for 20-30 years and is well liked by Fiji's business community.

MAHENDRA CHAUDHRY

Deposed ethnic Indian prime minister Chaudhry is one of Fiji's longest-serving and toughest politicians, an autocratic former trade union boss and accountant who draws support from Indo-Fijian dominated sugar cane farms.

He was a member of the multi-racial government toppled in a 1987 coup by army chief Sitiveni Rabuka. Chaudhry beat Rabuka in a landslide election win May 1999, snaring ethnic Indian and indigenous Fijian seats.

But he was toppled in a nationalist coup led by George Speight on May 19, 2000. Held hostage for 56 days, he was released after the military agreed to appoint an indigenous interim government.

TUPENI BABA

One of Chaudhry's two deputy indigenous Fijian prime ministers but broke away in May to form the New Labour Unity Party. He is backed by indigenous Fijians and ethnic Indians unhappy with Chaudhry's style of leadership and who worry that his re-election may reignite racial violence. A university teacher, Baba's popularity means he could be a compromise leader.

GEORGE SPEIGHT

Coup leader and failed businessman Speight contests the election under the Conservative Alliance banner from a prison cell. His party was launched by indigenous Fijians unhappy with Fiji's main indigenous party which lost the 1999 election to Chaudhry's multi-racial coalition.

FILIPE BOLE

A veteran indigenous Fijian politician who heads Fiji's traditional indigenous party the Soqosoqo ni Vakavulewa ni Taukei (SVT). Bole has fought against eroding support for the SVT after it lost 23 seats at the last poll.

ADI KUINI SPEED

A paramount chief and one of two indigenous deputy prime ministers under Chaudhry. She heads the Fijian Association Party and is the widow of indigenous prime minister Timoci Bavadra, whose government was toppled in a 1987 coup.

She is held in high regard across the racial divide, but has serious health problems.

FIJI MILITARY

The Fiji military has said it will abide by the election outcome but has also stressed it must maintain law and order. The military brokered Chaudhry's release of Chaudhry and ruled by decree before appointing an interim administration. It was rocked by a failed mutiny in November 2000.

Commander Frank Bainimarama is seen as an honourable man with no political ambitions.

SITIVENI RABUKA

Former prime minister Sitiveni Rabuka was army chief when he staged two coups in 1987. He has retired from politics but many say he is simply waiting for an opportunity to return as Fiji's saviour.

He led Fiji until he changed its racist constitution in 1997-98 and was wiped out in a 1999 election landslide by Chaudhry. His personal popularity has since declined.

GREAT COUNCIL OF CHIEFS

Fiji's traditional chiefly rulers appoint the president and are viewed as the unofficial political masters of Fiji. While its independence from Fiji's three coups has been questioned at times, it remains highly respected by indigenous Fijians and advises governments on welfare, custom and the economy.

PRESIDENT JOSEFA ILOILO

Fiji's president Ratu Josefa Iloilo was appointed in the aftermath of Fiji's May 2000. His role is largely ceremonial but he must appoint a prime minister and government which has the majority support of the parliament. With a coalition government expected to emerge from post-election horsetrading his decision on the next prime minister will be crucial to racial harmony.

Reuters contributed to this report.