27600: (news) Chamberlain: EU observers give Haiti election mixed report card (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: Greg Chamberlain <GregChamberlain@compuserve.com>

     PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti, Feb 9 (Reuters) - Haiti's presidential election
suffered from considerable shortcomings, but the enthusiastic turnout
should be praised, the head of a group of European Union observers said on
Thursday.
     Johan Van Hecke, a member of the European Parliament, told reporters
in the Haitian capital that "overall, the administration of the process
could have been of a higher standard," and urged authorities to improve
their performance by the time of a second round vote on March 19.
     It was unclear on Thursday whether a second round, held if no
candidates obtains 50 percent of votes, would be necessary.
     Early indications suggested ex-president Rene Preval, a one-time ally
of ousted Haitian leader Jean-Bertrand Aristide, might have won a majority
needed to avoid a run-off. Tuesday's election was the first ballot since
Aristide was driven from power two years ago in an armed revolt and under
U.S. and French pressure to quit.
     Reading from a statement, Hecke said the Provisional Electoral Council
responsible for organizing Tuesday's ballot "did not possess sufficient
administrative and organizational capacity necessary for the conduct of
elections."
     Hecke said observers saw procedural irregularities. Voting screens
around ballot boxes did not guarantee secrecy and electoral authorities
should have made arrangements to assist the illiterate, he said.
     The European deputy, however, praised the Haitian people for turning
out in large numbers.