27621: Craig (news) BBC: Ex-Aristide ally leads Haiti poll (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: Dan Craig


Ex-Aristide ally leads Haiti poll

Former president Rene Preval, a one-time ally of ousted leader Jean-Bertrand 
Aristide, has taken a strong early lead in Haiti's election.

Initial results from around the Haitian capital show he has more than 60% of 
the votes, electoral officials say.

Another ex-leader, Leslie Manigat, has 13.8%, while industrialist Charles Henry 
Baker has 6.1%, results show.

The first election since Mr Aristide fled the country two years ago has been 
hailed by international observers.

They praised the absence of political violence during Tuesday's election, which 
had been postponed several times.

Haitians were also commended for turning out in large numbers, and showing 
patience with long queues outside polling stations.

At least three people died in crushes at stations or in altercations with 
police.

The country - the poorest in the Americas - is choosing a 129-member parliament 
as well as a new president.

Aristide return?

Early counting in the west department, which includes the populous capital 
Port-au-Prince, gives Mr Preval 65.9% of the votes, the Provisional Electoral 
Council said on Thursday.

Such a strong showing suggests there may be no need for a run-off, which would 
be carried out between the two best-placed candidates if none achieve a 50% 
majority.

Sixty-three-year-old Mr Preval, who was president from 1996 to 2001, had been 
expected to do well in the capital, particularly in the shanty towns. Like Mr 
Aristide, he is popular with the poor.

The US ambassador in Haiti, Tim Carney, says a possible victory by Mr Preval 
will not affect ties with Washington.

"None of the frontrunners are problematic for the US government to deal with," 
he said.

Mr Aristide was first elected in 1990, but within a year he was overthrown, and 
replaced by a succession of military governments.

In the elections that followed, Mr Aristide was barred from standing, but his 
ally Mr Preval took nearly 90% of the vote.

Mr Aristide later returned to power, but he was forced out in early 2004 when 
opposition to his rule grew increasingly violent. He remains in exile in South 
Africa.

Mr Preval has told the BBC that Mr Aristide may return if he wishes, but that 
he will not tolerate the violent groups that pledge him allegiance.

Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/hi/world/americas/4699470.stm
Published: 2006/02/10 02:26:33 GMT
© BBC MMVI