Reprinted from Caribbean Net News
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PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AFP): The first round of Haiti's presidential and legislative elections has been postponed for a third time to January 8, election officials said Friday.
The delay of the first vote since ex president Jean Bertrand Aristide fled into exile in 2004 is a new blow to hopes that a new government would be in office by early February.
Haiti's authorities had previously planned to hold the first round of the elections in early November, but put it back to November 20 and then December 27.
One of the nine members of Haiti's Provisional Electoral Council (PEC) -- speaking on condition of anonymity -- said the first round vote would now be January 8.
There have been delays registering voters and issuing identity cards while security remains a major concern.
The delay came as the International Crisis Group (ISG), an independent group that works to prevent conflict, urged a delay of the vote until March.
"The government and international community should ensure a credible procedure by delaying the process one month, with the transfer of power taking place in March 2006," the ICG said, citing "serious organisational and security problems".
Haiti has been ruled by the interim government of Prime Minister Gerard Latortue and plagued by unrest since Aristide resigned and fled amid a popular uprising in February 2004. Aristide is now living in South Africa.
Gun battles between rival gangs in and around the capital and kidnappings occur regularly. Hundreds have been killed in the capital in recent months.
The latest election timetable foresees a second runoff vote being postponed to January 31 to February 15.
However, Haiti's interim constitution called for a new president and parliament to be sworn in by February 7.
"We are working very hard to present a definitive calendar that meets the world's expectations," the council member said.
"It will now fall on the government to make the official announcement," the official said.
Latortue's interim government has been supported by a large UN peacekeeping force that has struggled to maintain order while building a basis for a new constitutionally elected government.
The country of eight million people has 3.1 million registered voters in an eligible population of 4.5 million.
The latest timetable outlined by the election council member also envisages municipal and local elections taking place on March 5.
Distribution of election materials is slow in the poorest country of the Americas, with some remote villages only reachable by foot due to the lack of roads and infrastructure.
A total of 35 candidates are expected to be listed on the presidential ballot, including two former presidents, Rene Preval and Leslie Francois Manigat, and one woman, Judie Roy.
Meanwhile some 1,300 people will compete for 130 seats in the parliament.
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