|
Haiti's elections set for October and November
(Agencies)
Updated: 2005-02-01 09:54
Haitian officials Monday announced dates in October and November for local
and national elections to fill a political vacuum left by last year's
ouster of President Jean-Bertrand Aristide.
Representatives of Aristide's Lavalas Party have said they will only
participate in elections if the interim government ends what they call the
arbitrary arrest and detention of Aristide loyalists.
The Provisional Electoral Council said 7,000 local and regional posts will be
contested on Oct. 9, while the election for Haiti's president and 129
legislators will take place on Nov. 13. Elected officials will take office in
January and February 2006.
![A carnival reveler covered with motor oil and wearing a wig tries to scare people during a procession at the traditional carnival celebrations in Jacmel, Haiti, January 30, 2005. Carnival is celebrated all over Haiti from February 6 through 8 except in Jacmel, which is a home to hundreds of artists. This year, the celebrations took place under the watchful eye of UN peacekeepers. [Reuters]](xin_180202010958632231666.jpg)
A carnival reveler covered with motor oil and
wearing a wig tries to scare people during a procession at the traditional
carnival celebrations in Jacmel, Haiti, January 30, 2005. Carnival is
celebrated all over Haiti from February 6 through 8 except in Jacmel,
which is a home to hundreds of artists. This year, the celebrations took
place under the watchful eye of UN peacekeepers.
[Reuters] | Rosemond Pradel, a spokesman for the electoral body, announced the dates in a
decree sent to Haiti's interim government, which is expected to ratify the
decision later this week.
So far, 91 political parties have registered with the government with about
50 more expected to sign up, U.N. elections officer Gerardo Le Chevallier said.
He said about 100 presidential candidates are expected to participate.
The elections will be financed by $26.5 million in funds from Canada, the
United States, Haiti and the United Nations. The European Union has pledged an
additional $12 million.
Aristide was toppled Feb. 29 after a three-week revolt led by street gangs
and former soldiers of the army he disbanded in 1995, shortly after the United
States sent troops to restore him to power after a 1991 army coup. Aristide has
accused U.S. forces of kidnapping him and forcing him from office. The United
States has strongly denied the charge.
Armed ex-soldiers and former rebels who helped overthrow Aristide still
control parts of the country, and violence in pro-Aristide slums has killed more
than 250 people since Sept. 30.
Interim Prime Minister Gerard Latortue has accused Aristide of coordinating
the violence from exile in South Africa, a claim the former leader
denies.
| |
 |
|
|
|
|
Today's
Top News |
|
|
|
Top World
News |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
