Haiti's interim Prime Minister Gerard Latortue said Monday that all rival parties have agreed to hold national elections next year, an announcement concurrent with visiting US Secretary of State Colin Powell's pledge to help bring the country back on track.  

"A political agreement has been reached between the political parties and the representatives of civil society for general elections to be held in 2005," Latortue told a press conference, jointly held with Powell who just wrapped up his short visit to the violence-jolted Caribbean country.

According to Latortue, the ousted President Jean-Bertrand Aristide's Lavalas Party, excluded from the transitional cabinet, also signed the agreement to hold elections.

Tough conditions would be imposed on candidates, for "violence must be ruled out for anyone who wants to be in power," Latortue said.

"Those who were in the old (Aristide) government must publicly renounce violence to be a candidate," Latortue added, and members in the interim government were barred from participating in the elections.

Polls would be conducted in two phases, first legislative and then presidential, and the elected president would be sworn in on Feb. 7, 2006, when Aristide's original presidential tenure expires.

The government would establish an electoral body, which would start function in a few weeks, and the Economy Ministry would set up a watchdog agency to combat corruption arising from the election process.

In a show of support for the interim government, Powell said the United States would pledge US$9 million to a democracy mission of the Organization of the American States (OAS), and another US$55 million of economic and humanitarian aids for Haiti.

"Our purpose is to help the people and leadership of Haiti to make a new beginning and to build a future of hope for Haiti," Powell said.

Powell said he has secured assurance from Latortue that the government posts would never fall into the hands of criminals or human rights violators.

"Today the Haitian people have the chance for a new beginning," Powell said, urging "the proud people of Haiti to come together in peace, to seize this new chance to put your country firmly on the path to democracy."

The United States currently contributes about 2,000 troops in peacekeeping missions in Haiti, after an armed revolt forced Aristide into exile on Feb. 29.

Powell dismissed demand that a probe be launched into circumstances under which Aristide was ousted, saying no purpose would be served by such an inquiry.

The former president, who is now in Jamaica for a temporary asylum, accused the United States of kidnapping him and forcing him to sign the resignation letter.

Powell brushed aside Aristide's accusation, insisting he left the country voluntarily, which averted a "bloodbath."

Powell also called for disarmament, saying failure to do so would put "Haiti's democracy ... at risk."

(Xinhua News Agency April 6, 2004)