Haiti could devolve into civil war, says ex-leader

Breitbart.com 12/29/2010 17:38

The crisis gripping cholera-ridden Haiti in the wake of disputed elections and a debilitating earthquake could devolve into civil war, the nation's former interim leader said.

Haiti's Provisional Electoral Council promised a recount of the November 28 election ballots after official results set off charges of fraud and rioting by angry supporters of a losing candidate.

"This electoral process, at this current stage, could lead to civil war. We will all be both responsible for this situation and its victims," warned Boniface Alexandre, who ruled as interim president from 2004 to 2006.

"I have a suggestion: all of the parties -- those in power and the opposition -- have something in common, and that's Haiti. We must find a solution," he told Radio Vision 2000 in Port-au-Prince.

The controversial results published earlier this month had former first lady Mirlande Manigat in the lead with 31 percent of the vote, followed by ruling party candidate Jude Celestin with 22 percent.

The two frontrunners were supposed to advance to a run-off scheduled for January 16, but the count was rejected by popular singer-turned-candidate Michel Martelly, who trailed Celestin by less than 7,000 votes.