Preval says likely fraud in Haitian election, adds comments

(15 Feb 2006)
1. Various of Rene Preval heading toward media to talk to reporters
2. Various of Rene Preval getting ready to talk to reporters
3. SOUNDBITE (French) Rene Preval, Haiti's presidential candidate:
"Haitian people have shown a lot of enthusiasm. The CEP is taking too long to announce the results. At first, the CEP announced one percentage, then day after day they have lowered them. If we compare those results with the NDI (National Democratic Institute), the observers and the international media it would show clearly that the winner of this election is Lespoi (Preval's political party) on the first round."
4. Various of protestors setting up road blocks.
5. Various of people singing and showing Preval's picture
6. Mid shot of people overturning a car on the streets
7. Mid shot of UN vehicle with soldiers
8. UN soldier holding a gun machine
9. UN soldier on a truck holding gun machines
10. Wide of UN soldiers stepping back to get on the truck
11. Various of UN soldiers on the streets
12. Various of Desmond Tutu at the Hotel Montana blessing the receptionist, and walking away
13. SOUNDBITE (English) Desmond Tutu, South African Archbishop:
"I like it (referring to Haiti) it is a lovely country, with very nice people."
14. Mid shot of Desmond Tutu getting in the car
15. Mid shot of vehicles escorting Desmond Tutu
16. Wide shot of Port-au-Prince from Petionville neighbourhood
STORYLINE
Leading presidential candidate Rene Preval said on Tuesday that fraud marred last week's elections but he urged supporters to protest peacefully, a day after at least one person was killed in violent demonstrations.
"The CEP (Provisional Electoral Council) is taking too long to announce the results. At first, the CEP announced one percentage, then day after day they have lowered them. If we compare those results with the NDI (National Democratic Institute), the observers and the international media it would show clearly that the winner of this election is Lespoi (Preval's political party) on the first round," he said.
Preval had just under 49 percent of the vote with most ballots counted.
On Monday his supporters accusing election officials of manipulating results stormed a luxury hotel in Port-au-Prince.
The violence left at least one protester dead as barricades of blazing tires sent plumes of black smoke into the sky.
The UN Security Council also strongly urged all Haitians to respect election results and refrain from violence on Tuesday as it extended the UN peacekeeping mission in Haiti for another six months, until August 15.
UN spokesman David Wimhurst has said there has been no evidence of fraud in the elections.
Preval, a former protege of ousted President Jean-Bertrand Aristide, enjoys wide support among Haiti's poor majority.
It was uncertain, however, whether he would get the 50 percent total needed to win outright and avoid a second round of voting and no new results have been posted for more than 20 hours.
A popularly elected government with a clear mandate from the voters is seen as crucial to avoiding a political and economic meltdown in the Western Hemisphere's poorest nation.
In the two years since Aristide's ouster, gangs have gone on kidnapping sprees and factories have closed for lack of security.
White UN armoured vehicles set about clearing the roadblocks on Tuesday, pushing junked cars, old refrigerators and other debris aside, though some barricades were still in place.
Meanwhile, South African Bishop Desmond Tutu left the country which he called, "a lovely country, (with) very nice people."

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