Haiti’s Martelly urges world to ignore vote results

PORT-AU-PRINCE, April 23, AFP Haiti’s president-elect Michel Martelly urged the international community Friday to “not recognize the results of legislative elections” tainted by fraud to benefit the ruling party.

“These results are unacceptable and don’t reflect the will of the people,” said a statement from Martelly’s office.

Results of legislative elections published by the Haitian electoral council gave outgoing President Rene Preval’s Unity Party a landslide victory.

The ruling Unity Party expanded its presence in the Chamber of Deputies, taking 46 of the 99 positions, and gained an absolute majority in the upper Senate with 17 of the 30 seats, according to final results announced Thursday.

The United Nations and Haiti’s major donor nations, including the United States, voiced concern earlier Friday over allegations of fraud.

Reversals in 18 legislative races raised doubts about the legitimacy of the voting process, according to Haiti’s main benefactors.