Demonstrators demand Preval be declared president of Haiti

PORT-AU-PRINCE – Some 10 000 people demonstrated in the Haitian capital Sunday, demanding Rene Preval be declared president even though it was unclear if he could reach the 50 per cent needed to win the election outright.

As the ballot count dragged on late on Sunday, partial results gave the former president 49,1 per cent of the vote. The result, based on 75 per cent of the ballots, gave him a huge lead over his rivals, but left him short of the majority needed to avert a runoff election.There was uncertainty as to when the final outcome of the February 7 election would be known after electoral authorities cancelled an announcement they had initially scheduled for Sunday evening.But crowds of people poured out of shantytowns into the streets of Port-au-Prince for a second consecutive day to express their conviction that Preval, a champion of the poor, had already won the presidency.The demonstrators marched and danced in the streets, chanting “Preval president”, holding up photographs of the frontrunner and waving twigs.Tension mounted as the protesters stopped in front of the electoral council’s offices, where only a few Haitian police, armed with automatic weapons, were in evidence.The march culminated outside the presidential palace, and coincided with noisy carnival rehearsals held around the city.Pro-Preval marches were also staged in other parts of the country, according to radio stations.Members of the 9 500-strong UN military and police force took position in key parts of the capital amid concern of a renewed explosion of violence if Preval fails be declared victorious.Should the balloting go to a runoff, scheduled for March 19, Preval, 63, would likely compete against Leslie Manigat, 75, also a former president, who had 11,7 per cent in the partial results.Authorities urged Haitians to await and respect the outcome of the presidential and legislative elections when it is finally announced.- Nampa-AFPThe result, based on 75 per cent of the ballots, gave him a huge lead over his rivals, but left him short of the majority needed to avert a runoff election.There was uncertainty as to when the final outcome of the February 7 election would be known after electoral authorities cancelled an announcement they had initially scheduled for Sunday evening.But crowds of people poured out of shantytowns into the streets of Port-au-Prince for a second consecutive day to express their conviction that Preval, a champion of the poor, had already won the presidency.The demonstrators marched and danced in the streets, chanting “Preval president”, holding up photographs of the frontrunner and waving twigs.Tension mounted as the protesters stopped in front of the electoral council’s offices, where only a few Haitian police, armed with automatic weapons, were in evidence.The march culminated outside the presidential palace, and coincided with noisy carnival rehearsals held around the city.Pro-Preval marches were also staged in other parts of the country, according to radio stations.Members of the 9 500-strong UN military and police force took position in key parts of the capital amid concern of a renewed explosion of violence if Preval fails be declared victorious.Should the balloting go to a runoff, scheduled for March 19, Preval, 63, would likely compete against Leslie Manigat, 75, also a former president, who had 11,7 per cent in the partial results.Authorities urged Haitians to await and respect the outcome of the presidential and legislative elections when it is finally announced.- Nampa-AFP