HONIARA - Voting in Solomon Islands' parliamentary election began on Wednesday morning after the opening of the polling stations across the country.

A total of 334 candidates are vying for 50 seats in the parliamentary election.

Voters will cast their ballots in a joint election, encompassing both national and provincial elections.

Election observer groups from Australia, New Zealand, the Pacific, Japan, Europe and the US will monitor voting and counting

A total of 816 candidates are contending for positions in the provincial assemblies and 89 for the Honiara City Council.

The Solomon Islands archipelago has a population of just 700,000 but occupies a strategic position 1,600 km (990 miles) northeast of Australia.

Polling booths opened at 7 am on Wednesday (2000 GMT on Tuesday), with voting in national and provincial elections being held on the same day for the first time. Police from Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea and Fiji are assisting the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force with security.

Election observer groups from Australia, New Zealand, the Pacific, Japan, Europe and the US will monitor voting and counting.

The 50 members of the national parliament are elected for a four-year term. The prime minister is selected after polling day by a vote of newly elected lawmakers, a process that can take several weeks.

The electoral commission urged voters to keep their vote secret and avoid vote buying, which has been a widespread practice in past elections.

With Reuters inputs