Fiji`s police said the country`s powerful military had been called in to help "with the maintenance of security and stability" Thursday, following an election that looked set to remove the country`s leader of 16 years from power.

In a statement, the police force -- whose commanders are loyal to Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama -- cited unspecified "racial tension" and "intelligence" about "planned civil unrest" as the cause of the move.