{Protesters vow to derail Sunday’s runoff vote after candidate accuses electoral authority of backing ruling party.}<\/p>\n
Protesters have taken to the streets of Haiti’s capital to demand the suspension of a runoff presidential vote over alleged irregularities. <\/p>\n
The demonstrations in Port-au-Prince on Monday came as attackers in rural areas burned several electoral offices.<\/p>\n
Some of the thousand-strong group of protesters burned vehicles, threw rocks and attacked a petrol station in the downtown area of the capital.<\/p>\n
Haiti is due to hold a runoff vote backed by international donors on Sunday, but tensions have risen since the opposition candidate Jude Celestin said last week he would withdraw.<\/p>\n
Celestin accuses electoral authorities of favouring the ruling party.<\/p>\n
“We are moving toward a selection, not an election,” Celestin told the Associated Press on Saturday.<\/p>\n
The Swiss-trained engineer came second in an October first-round vote in the poor Caribbean nation, beaten by banana-exporter Jovenel Moise, the ruling party candidate.<\/p>\n
Elections and transfers of power in Haiti have long been plagued by instability, and international observers said October’s vote was relatively smooth.<\/p>\n
However, several of the 54 candidates said the government had twisted the results.<\/p>\n
Fresh elections<\/p>\n
Monday’s protesters demanded the creation of an interim government and that fresh elections be held after President Michel Martelly leaves office in February.<\/p>\n
They included several opposition groups including the Platform Pitit Desalin and supporters of the opposition candidate, Celestin.<\/p>\n
“We declare this week the rebellion week to block the January 24 election. We will protest in front of each voting booth and voting centre,” said Assad Volcy, secretary-general of Pitit Desalin.<\/p>\n
In the north of the country, unknown assailants burned four offices belonging to the electoral council blamed by many critics for irregularities in the October vote.<\/p>\n
Four members of the electoral council have resigned in recent days.<\/p>\n
The election authority said it condemned acts of violence and vowed to go ahead with the vote on Sunday.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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