HTH -- Haiti Earthquake

January 24, 2011. U.S. revokes Haitian officials' visas as pressure mounts

SOURCE: Altegrity Risk International

The U.S. State Department said on January 21st that it revoked the visas of about a dozen Haitian officials, increasing pressure on the government to drop its favored candidate from the presidential runoff in favor of a popular contender who is warning of renewed protests if he is not on the ballot. International monitors found that Michel Martelly rightfully belongs on the second-round ballot, prompting the candidate to urge his supporters to take to the streets peacefully if the electoral council does not allow him to run against top vote-getter Mirlande Manigat in the runoff, in place of Jude Celestin.

Meanwhile, the international community is urging President Rene Preval to schedule the second round vote, as he has just 14 days left in his presidential term. The international community has warned that his government will not be recognized by the international community unless runoff elections to choose his successor are announced before February 7th. Haitian authorities have recently considered canceling the presidential elections and holding a fresh first round and second round of elections before May 14th. Earlier this year, protests erupted after President Prevel considered extending his term after warning that the country was not prepared for elections following the 2010 earthquake.