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