Election Results In, Haiti Erupts in Violence

Preliminary results show he took 68% against Mirlande Manigat

(AP) - Musician Michel "Sweet Micky" Martelly scored a come-from-behind victory today in Haiti's presidential runoff, according to preliminary results from last month's election. Martelly, who has never held political office, received nearly 68% of the vote in the two-way race with Mirlande Manigat, electoral council spokesman Pierre Thibault said in an announcement that was immediately followed by noisy celebration in Port-au-Prince. More»

US wanted him to steer clear until after Sunday's election

(NEWSER) - The US really, really wanted him to stay away until Sunday's presidential elections were over, but Jean-Bertrand Aristide returned to Haiti today after a seven-year exile. The former priest and twice-elected president arrived just ahead of a runoff to determine whether pop singer Michel Martelly or former first lady Mirlande Manigat will be the nation's next president, reports Reuters . Aristide, who left for South Africa in 2004 following an armed rebellion and US pressure, says he wants no part of politics and is there to work on his education foundation, reports CNN . More»

But some see 'progress' amid the 'distress'

(NEWSER) - The wires are awash with two-year anniversary stories about Haiti's earthquake, which pretty much run the optimism gamut from the Washington Post (Headline: "Two years after quake, signs of progress in Haiti") to the Wall Street Journal ("Two Years After Quake, Haiti Remains in Distress").

• Journal: It sees "donor fatigue" settling in and resentment rising against the government of former pop star Michel Martelly. Political infighting has held up reconstruction projects, and the US, along with charities and NGOs, are running out of patience. In the meantime, "half a million people still live in squalid tent cities and rubble remains where it fell in this ruined capital" of Port-au-Prince. Full story here .

Treated for gunshot as Haiti goes to vote

(NEWSER) - As his country goes to vote for the presidential race he was barred from, it's oddly Wyclef Jean who's instead making news. The Haitian-born singer has been released from a hospital outside Port-au-Prince after he was shot in the hand last night, reports the AP . A rep for Jean, as well as his brother, both confirmed he had been shot but had no additional details. Click for more on today's election in Haiti . More»

Candidates call for cancellation, cite 'massive fraud'

(NEWSER) - As protesters hit the streets, presidential candidates in Haiti banded together yesterday to demand the election be canceled, citing foul play, the Christian Science Monitor reports. Twelve of the 19 candidates are accusing the outgoing president’s party of “massive fraud.” Protesters—some peaceful, some throwing stones—marched after hundreds of voters said they were barred from voting at polling stations because their names weren’t on rolls. More»