HAITI: Haiti declared René Préval, a one-time ally of ousted leader Jean-Bertrand Aristide, the country's next president yesterday after reaching a deal on vote fraud claims that averted a feared outbreak of violence.
Préval, a former president opposed by the same wealthy elite which helped drive Aristide from power two years ago, but passionately supported by the Caribbean country's poor, claimed "massive fraud" in the February 7th election had deprived him of a first-round victory.
"We have won. Now we are going to fight for parliament," Mr Préval said. After that he secluded himself in his sister's hilltop house outside Port-au-Prince and aides said he was unlikely to make any further comment.
Jubilant supporters poured into the streets, dancing and chanting "victory, victory" after the embattled provisional electoral council issued a statement on Haitian radio in the middle of the night announcing the deal.
Eight of the council's nine members signed the agreement.
"René Préval has been declared the winner with 51 per cent," electoral council president Max Mathurin said in the statement, setting the country of 8.5 million off on the next chapter in a turbulent political history marked by instability, dictatorships and bloodshed.
The United States - the key foreign player in Haiti - welcomed Preval's victory and the Organisation of American States' secretary general, Jose Miguel Insulza, said it was "a significant step toward building the country's future on democracy".
Mr Préval's leading rival in the election, former president Leslie Manigat, however, angrily denounced what he called a "coup d'etat through the ballots".
Préval (63) was president from 1996 to 2001, between Aristide's two terms, and is the only leader in Haiti's 202-year history to win a democratic election, serve a full term and peacefully hand power to a successor. Mr Préval will take office on March 29th.
"For us, Préval means hope, respect and progress," said Jonas Lundi (28) as he celebrated in the Canapé Vert district. - (Reuters)