Brussels - The European Union's chief diplomat on Monday hailed the “calm and dignified” run-off elections in Haiti, urging quick final results to hasten the earthquake-hit country's rebuilding.
“The people of Haiti have expressed themselves, in a calm and dignified manner,” Catherine Ashton said in a statement, despite noting with regret “a handful of acts of violence” surrounding the vote.
Partial results suggested on Monday that carnival singer Michel Martelly was on course for a significant winning margin in Haiti's surprisingly peaceful second-round presidential poll on Sunday.
Officials have said results would be made public at the end of the month, and Ashton urged the authorities to do so “with full transparency” to aid progress in Haiti's reconstruction and development. - Sapa-AFP