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5972: Bombs defused ahead of Haiti poll (fwd)
From: nozier@tradewind.net
Sunday, 26 November, 2000, 01:40 GMT
Bombs defused ahead of Haiti poll (BBC NEWS)
Haitians are expected to re-elect Aristide
By Peter Greste in Port au Prince
Bomb disposal units in Haiti have defused at least four home-made
explosive devices less than 24 hours before the start of presidential
elections.The authorities said there were no clear political targets
involved but said the bombs may have been placed to reduce voter
turn-out. All the crude devices,known as Creole bombs and made out of
backyard chemistry packed into metal pipes, were placed in the capital,
Port au Prince. Former President Jean-Bertrand Aristide is expected to
win a second term in power but his supporters have accused the
opposition of launching violent attacks to keep voters away from the
polls to tarnish the legitimacy of the election.
International suspicion
If voters stay away from the polls the international community is
unlikely to recognise his government. It has already accused Mr
Aristide's party, known as Family Lavalas, of tampering with the
results of the parliamentary elections earlier this year.As a result of
the dispute, the United Nations,the Organisation of American States and
the United States have all refused to send observers or technical help
for this election and they have blocked direct aid and loans to
Haiti. But a high turnout could equally force the donors to accept Mr
Aristide's victory as the genuine will of the people and open the way
for the financial aid so desperately needed here.
Nervous voters
Bombs like Saturday's could have a serious impact on voters already
nervous following a similar spate of explosions and drive-by
shootings over the past few weeks. Nobody is sure who is responsible,
the opposition, which is boycotting the vote, says Lavalas is trying to
set up an excuse for cancelling the poll if the results don't go its
way. Lavalas has accused the opposition of trying to intimidate voters.
It is far from clear if Haitians will heed Mr Aristide's call to defy
the violence and take part.