Your candidate is out, US tells Haiti's Preval

Your candidate is out, US tells Haiti's Preval

By Edouard Guihaire (AFP) – 2 hours ago\

PORT-AU-PRINCE — The United States told President Rene Preval on Thursday to pull his favored candidate out of Haiti's disputed presidential election race or risk losing US and international support.

The bold call from the US, which had been largely silent on Haiti's post-election quagmire, came as the shock return of notorious ex-dictator Jean-Claude "Baby Doc" Duvalier threatened to muddy the political waters.

Susan Rice, US ambassador to the United Nations, said Haiti must carry out recommendations made by international monitors who have called for Preval protege Jude Celestin to be discarded from the delayed presidential run-off.

"Sustained support from the international community, including the United States, will require a credible process that represents the will of the Haitian people," Rice told a UN Security Council debate on Haiti.

"We urge the Haitian authorities to outline a very clear way forward that will lead promptly to the inauguration of a democratically elected government."

Initial results sparked deadly riots in December when it was revealed that opposition candidate Michel Martelly had 7,000 fewer votes than ruling party candidate Jude Celestin and would not advance to the now-delayed second round.

After analyzing the ballot sheets, international monitors advised that the second and third placed candidates should be switched so that Martelly faces Mirlande Manigat, a former first lady who was clearly first, in the run-off.

More than a week after being handed the Organization of American States (OASD) report, Preval is yet to comment and the election commission insists it can only change the order if legal complaints from the candidates are upheld.

The patience of the international community is wearing thin as more than a year after a catastrophic earthquake killed a quarter of a million people, much of the capital remains in ruins with the rubble uncleared as Haiti cries out for responsible leadership.

"We urge the Provisional Electoral Council to implement the OAS recommendations," Rice said, also calling for a "timely" timetable for the second round.

Duvalier's surprise return to the nation he fled amid an uprising 25 years ago has only stoked further turmoil.

He issued a statement to AFP denying remarks by his aides Wednesday that he intended to return to power, but did not rule out a political role.

Memories of Duvalier's repressive 1971-1986 regime remain strong, and human rights groups have accused him and his late father of having presided over decades of unparalleled oppression and abuse.

On Tuesday, prosecutors charged him with corruption, embezzlement of millions of dollars from state funds and criminal association.

And in a new legal challenge, four Haitians, including a prominent journalist, filed criminal suits against him on Wednesday alleging crimes against humanity.

Rice also highlighted US concern over Duvalier's return.

"Given the continuing turmoil surrounding the November 28 election, the United States is concerned about the unpredictable impact that Duvalier's return may have on Haiti's political situation," she said.

"My government is clear about Duvalier's notorious record of human rights abuses and corruption," she told the UN council.

But aides have suggested that the former strongman is in no hurry to leave.

He "will stay in Haiti forever, it's his country. And take part in politics. That's his right. A politician never dies," said his lawyer Reynold Georges, adding that Duvalier was preparing to move back into his old house.