Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase''s uneasy relationship with military chief Frank Bainimarama has added to election tensions in a county which has suffered three racially motivated coups and a mutiny since 1987.

Bainimarama accuses Qarase of being soft of the leaders of a 2000 coup which ultimately led to Qarase''s indigenous Soqosoqo Duavata ni Lewenivanua (SDL) party gaining power at the last elections in 2001.

He has also warned him not to incite racial hatred between indigenous Fijians who make up 51 percent of the 906,000 population and ethnic Indians who dominate the sugar- and tourism-based economy.

Bainimarama today accused the government of planning to cut the size of Fiji''s military after the May 6-13 election.

''''This is not interfering with the process of the elections, this is simply telling my people not to vote for a party who is thinking of leaving many officers without a job,'''' Bainimarama told Fiji TV.

Qarase described local media reports about possible defence cuts as ''''deliberate misinformation''''.

''''It could even be part of a politically inspired campaign to influence voters on the eve of the election,'''' he told reporters.

Race remains the central issue of the poll battle between Qarase and his ethnic Indian challenger, Mahendra Chaudhry, after Qarase said he does not believe Fiji is ready for a non-indigenous leader.

Police leave has been cancelled and the military conducted ''''live fire'''' security exercises this week. On Friday, a small army unit carrying assault rifles marched through Lautoka, a sugar town on the northwest coast of Fiji''s main island Viti Levu.

''''It''s totally unnecessary,'''' Qarase said of the show of force.

More Reuters CH DS1300