Clinton promises further help to Haiti
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U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said on Sunday that her country would continue to help Haiti in its reconstruction process.
"We have a deep commitment to the Haitian people. That goes to humanitarian aid, that goes to governance and democracy programs, that will be going to a cholera treatment center," Clinton told reporters during a visit to Haiti.
According to reports reaching here from Port-au-Prince, Haiti's capital, Clinton met with Haitian President Rene Preval and the three presidential candidates seeking to replace him.
Haiti's delayed presidential runoff will be now be held on March 20 between only two of the candidates.
Haiti held the legislative elections and the first round of presidential election on Nov. 28, 2010. The country's Provisional Electoral Council (CEP) had announced that Mirlande Manigat, former first lady and candidate for the National Gathering of Progressive Democrats (RNDP), took first place with 31.37 percent of the vote, ahead of the ruling party's Jude Celestin.
However, the results were strongly questioned by the international community and the Haitian people, which prompted the Haitian electoral authorities to recount the votes.
Earlier this month, the Organization of American States (OAS) presented a report saying that Manigat won the first round with 31.6 percent of the vote, popular musician Michel Martelly came in second with 22.2 percent and Celestin with 21.9 percent.
Last Friday, the Haitian electoral authorities said the recount results will be announced on Feb. 2.
Clinton said the United States insists that the recommendations made by the international observers should be respected, referring to the OAS report which suggested that Celestin withdraw from the race.
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