Haitians protest vote results

PORT-AU-PRINCE - thousands of demonstrators, some swing sticks and set in buildings, fire the candidate took to the streets Wednesday to rail against the official results of Haiti's recent presidential elections, the ruling party in a runoff election contain January.

At least three people in the ensuing violence died, witnesses said.

Demonstrations in several Haitian towns Tuesday broke out, and shots by the capital Port au widergehallt were announced Prince as the first results of a controversial election. Video courtesy AFP.

Doubt on the official count of Haiti Nov. 28 Vote grew after the U.S. Embassy in the capital the results "inconsistent" with characters from international and domestic observers called. The United Nations said it was "concerned" about allegations of fraud but for Haitians remain calm and resolve their differences legally challenged.

A further setback for a country that is reeling killed hundreds of thousands of people in January by the earthquake and struggles could contain the contested election and any potential political unrest to a cholera epidemic that has claimed more than 2,000 lives. Doubt about the legitimacy of the future Government of Haiti's burden, could relations with donor countries billions of dollars in reconstruction money are pledging.

Official results showed the top vote-getter, former first lady Mirlande Manigat, with 31% of the vote after Jew Célestin, a member of the Party of President René Préval's Inite, was followed with 22.48%. Haitian pop star Michel "Sweet Micky" Martelly finished third with meeting record % of the vote according to the Provisional Election Commission.

Associated press Port-au-Prince police on Wednesday instead of a follower of "sweet Micky" Martelly who said backers wrong of presidential election runoff was omitted.

Mr Martelly supporters went to the streets in cities including the capital, Jacmel in the South and national police in the North, say, their candidate who deprived 2nd place in Mr. of Préval's Government. The two top to face each other in a January runoff.

"You can see, the Haitian people accept the results," Georges Benoit said a 35-year-old teacher as a column of demonstrators went along the streets of the capital.

Demonstrators Mr. of Préval's set fire to the headquarters party, according to witnesses. Demonstrators clashed with UN peacekeepers in parts of the city, leading to the closure of the airport. At the place Saint Pierre in Pétionville, upscale suburban riot police fired tear gas to several hundred demonstrators, which you back.

"It's a total war", Kenny Levil, a 20 year old student told together with his 6-year-old daughter who was watching the unrest at place Saint Pierre. "We will not stop until we get, what people asked: Préval must go."

In a sign how deep dissatisfaction with the choice ran even the winner woman Manigat, called for a recount Wednesday and you said, also felt "Victim" by the choice and the number of official.

Guillermo Arias / associated press demonstrated in Port-au-Prince supporters of presidential candidate Michel Martelly Wednesday.

Mr. Préval took appeal for peace radio Haitians to say that "disorder will solve not things." The President said some fraud in your options each country is suffering but there are legal means to detect fraud and resolution of disputes.

"Candidates have their lawyers if you want to deny the results." But to follow the law ", the President said who was won re-election in 2006 but unpopular following criticism he was released, was, that he to lackluster and ineffective after January's earthquake."

Place Haitian election monitors projected Mr Martelly second would take. Election observation financed by the European Union, said National Council, a Haitian choice group on Tuesday his wife Manigat surveys in the first place with 30% of the vote, Mr Martelly in second place with 25% and Mr Célestin put in third with 20%. The Group had more than 5,500 observer observed include the vote in 1,600 centers nationwide vote. His methodology or a margin of error for his estimates show it.

The U.S. Embassy in Haiti for peace appealed but called into question the official results. "Like other U.s. Government results from the Nov. is concerned That…preliminary" "28 national elections, which are inconsistent with the published results of the national election observation", with reports of official USA observers is election day observation and vote "many national and international observers" across the country, the Embassy said in a statement.

Speech on the radio, Mr. Préval took a shot at the US Embassy, saying the diplomatic mission "was not the CEP," referring to Haiti's election authority.

Thousands of demonstrators, swing some sticks and buildings fire set went on the road Wednesday to rail against the official results of Haiti's recent presidential election. Ingrid Arnesen has the latest from Port-Au-Prince.

In a statement of UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon urges Haitian politician to exhaust remedies for your claims and reminded all candidates ", you have a personal responsibility to encourage their supporters to remain calm and to stop violence."

Mr Martelly, a 40-year old singer, read a brief explanation of the Haitian radio klingenden defiantly as he thanked his supporters. To talk in Kreyol, he said: "further your demonstrations." It is your right. "But were not violent."

The vote was marred voting left by disorganization, especially the fact out countless voters lists. On election day, 12 of the 18 candidates — including Mrs Manigat - instead of a press conference to say, the vote was marred by problems and asked the CEP suspend the Electon.

Add the problems was the 10-day delay between the vote and the announcement of the results.

If a runoff election held January, Mrs Manigat leaders would be considered. She is the widow of former Haitian President Leslie Manigat who only four months of electoral fraud was overthrown after his election in 1988 on charges.

Mrs Manigat, 70, is a University Professor, spent much of her youth in exile during the dictatorship of Jean-Claude "Baby Doc" Duvalier. It features the House of the progressive national Democrats Party as centre-left "Capitalism with a human face".

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