Suva, Aug 27: Fijian Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase has emerged as the Pacific nation's most popular premier yet among indigenous Fijians, The Fiji Times said today. Its Tebbutt-Times Poll gave Qarase the highest approval rate since polling began in 1992.

The poll showed a staggering 83 per cent of indigenous Fijians gave Qarase their approval. This is an increase from the 72 per cent that he received in a June 2003 poll.

Over 60 per cent estimated "he was doing a very good job as Prime Minister." In the overall tally combining responses from all races, including ethnic Indians, Qarase netted 56 per cent.

"With an overall approval rating of 56 per cent, he is currently slightly more popular than (former Prime Minister Sitiveni) Rabuka at his peak in July 1994 when 53 per cent approved of his performance as Prime Minister," said the poll.

But Fiji Labour Party leader Mahendra Chaudhry still remains the most popular Prime Minister yet overall (all races combined) with 62 per cent rating in November 1999. Chaudhry was overthrown in a coup in May 2000. "Qarase's approval rating continues to be much higher among the Fijians at 83 per cent, followed by others at 61 per cent and then Indo-Fijians at 30 per cent. For the Indo-Fijians, there were more disapprovers," today's report said.

Around 44 per cent of Fijis 8,40,000 people are Indian while the balance are made up of Melanesians, Polynesians and other races.

Bureau Report