PORT-AU-PRINCE, (Reuters) – Haiti’s electoral authorities said yesterday they would urgently recheck vote tally sheets from the Caribbean country’s troubled presidential elections to try to defuse a dispute over the results that has triggered nationwide unrest.
The move followed violent protests since Tuesday by supporters of popular musician and presidential candidate Michel Martelly, who was eliminated from a deciding run-off in results released by the Provisional Electoral Council.
At least four people were killed in this week’s unrest, which has dimmed international hopes that the U.N.-backed elections held on Nov. 28 could create stability for Haiti as it struggles to recover from a devastating January earthquake.
In a statement, the electoral council said the review by a special commission, including international observers, would verify tally sheets of votes cast for the top three contenders — Mirlande Manigat, Jude Celestin and Martelly.
Representatives of all three candidates said they welcomed the electoral authority’s initiative to clear up doubts about the results.
The council’s preliminary results from the Nov. 28 elections were released late on Tuesday and showed former first lady Manigat and government technocrat Celestin going through to a final decisive presidential run-off in January.
Entertainer “Sweet Micky” Martelly had finished third, less than a percentage point behind Celestin, according to these results which have been rejected by Martelly.
He accuses outgoing President Rene Preval and his protege Celestin of rigging the results and thousands of his supporters have paralyzed the capital Port-au-Prince and other cities in mass protests that included attacks on public buildings.
Port-au-Prince was calmer yesterday, as rain appeared to discourage wider protests. But flaming barricades blocked some streets and crowds of Martelly supporters still roamed around. Well-armed U.N. Indian peacekeepers reinforced the heavy Haitian police guard at the electoral authority headquarters.
Yesterday at least one person was shot dead and three injured in a crowded earthquake survivors camp near the damaged presidential palace following a confrontation between supporters of Celestin and Martelly, witnesses said.
Noting the “nature, intensity and unpredictability” of the recent protests, the State Department in Washington urged U.S. citizens to avoid non-essential travel to Haiti.
The Provisional Electoral Council said its decision to carry out a “rapid and exceptional” review of the results tally sheets took into account “the clear dissatisfaction of many voters, protests and acts of violence” since Tuesday.
