SUVA, Fiji (AFP) — Fiji's opposition on Friday accused the government of sowing "fear and chaos" in a bid to stay in power, as the military deployed to the streets of the capital Suva.

AFP reporters witnessed a small number of military vehicles on patrol, a day after Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama announced their mobilization to maintain "law and order."

The scene was otherwise calm with people going about last-minute Christmas shopping.

Former naval commander Bainimarama has led Fiji since a 2006 military putsch, and has refused to concede defeat following the elections on 14 December.

The vote resulted in the opposition — led by rival ex-coup leader and former prime minister Sitiveni "Rambo" Rabuka — cobbling together enough seats to form a coalition government.

Bainimarama's allies have delayed a parliament sitting to nominate Rabuka as the next prime minister.

Meanwhile, Bainimarama has cited unsubstantiated reports of post-vote ethnic violence as a reason to deploy the military and "fulfil our duty" to keep Fiji safe.

Many Fijians fear the government's claims of ethnic violence and the military deployment are a pretext for a "creeping coup."