Thousands of demonstrators continue to protest the outcome of Haiti’s election, as calls for calm and an end to violence went unheeded. Yesterday, they set fire to the headquarters of the ruling Inite party, and attacked several shops, a post of the UN peacekeeping mission MINUSTAH, and a radio station owned by a Senate candidate with the ruling candidate, Carlos Lebon. It has been reported that at least four persons have died so far as a result of the violence.
The unrest, which prompted many businesses in the capital to close yesterday, followed Tuesday night’s announcement by the Provisional Electoral Council (CEP) that President Rene Préval’s handpicked successor, Jude Celestin, and former first lady Mirlande Manigat would go forward to a runoff next month to choose President Préval’s successor.
