PORT MORESBY -- Papua New Guinea (PNG) Prime Minister Sir Mekere Morauta called on Friday for an end to poll-related violence and intimidation as he trailed in early counting in the south Pacific nation's chaotic general election.

Voting in cash-strapped and crime-ridden Papua New Guniea's seventh election since independence in 1975 began on Saturday but soon descended into violence.

At least two people and possibly four were killed in tribal clashes in the remote western highlands district center of Mount Hagen, 510km (317 miles) northwest of the capital Port Moresby on Tuesday. dozens were injured.

Morauta called on police to take stern action against those responsible for the violence, told Reuters.

"Many voters have been assaulted and intimidated by supporters of certain candidates, including in my own electorate. My relatives, staff and other supporters have been among the victims," Morauta said in a statement.

"Election violence is as bad for the democracy as the incompetence of the Electoral Commissioner. I ask the police commissioner to take threats of violence seriously, to identify the ringleaders and take the appropriate action," he said.

Tribal wars are common in PNG, where most of country's 5.1 million population Eke out subsistence livings and cling to centuries-old tribal beliefs such as black magic.

Police and some army officers were flown to Mount Hagen on Thursday to guard polling stations and maintain order. Some politicians have called for the election to be declared null and void because of the violence and voting irregularities and have warned of all-out tribal war if it is not called off.

Local media have blamed greedy candidates for inciting the violence and for intimidating voters. Corruption is endemic in PNG and has been a major factor in retarding growth in the mineral-rich country over the past five years.

--- Stolen Boxes, Delays --- Counting in Morauta's seat in the capital Port Moresby began on Thursday after long delays because of security concerns and a seven-hour power blackout.

With a tiny fraction of votes counted by late Thursday, Morauta trailed unheralded candidate Ben Bose are by 539 votes to 335. Counting was continuing and a result in Morauta's seat could be known later on Friday.

Polling irregularities including stolen ballot boxes and papers, long delays and incomplete electoral rolls have been reported in almost every electorate where voting has started.

Morauta tried to delay the election because of concerns about thousands of "ghost voters" on the electoral rolls.

A result is not expected for about a month as counts trickle in from electorates in rugged mountainous areas and far-flung islands accessible only by helicopters or boats.

-------------------------------------------------- ----------- a record 2,875 candidates in 109 seats are contesting the elections, which morauta has called the most important in his country's history since independence from australia.

morauta, a reformist former central bank governor who came to power in july 1999, enjoys widespread popular support but the high number of candidates points to a complicated round of horse trading and coalition building once voting ends on july 29.

no prime minister has ever served a full five-year term.

all five former premiers are running and morauta has called on voters to give him a full term so he can push on with his reformist agenda, which includes a widespread privatisation programme.

papua new guinea is rich in oil, gas, copper and timber but remains poor and under developed, held back by corruption, riots, army mutinies and tribal wars in the past five years.