27759: (news) Chamberlain: Haiti-Elections (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: Greg Chamberlain <GregChamberlain@compuserve.com>

   By STEVENSON JACOBS

   PORT-AU-PRINCE, Feb 14 (AP) -- Leading presidential candidate Rene
Preval said Tuesday that "gross errors and probably gigantic fraud" marred
last week's elections, a day after thousands of his supporters stormed a
luxury hotel, accusing election officials of manipulating vote counts to
deprive him of a first-round victory.
   "We want the will of the Haiti people to be respected," Preval said at a
news conference. We are concerned about the situation in the streets, where
there has been violence."
   Preval, who had just under 49 percent of the vote with most ballots
counted, enjoys wide support among Haiti's poor majority. It was uncertain,
however, whether he would get the 50 percent total needed to win outright
and avoid a second round of voting and no new results have been posted for
more than 20 hours.