Haiti's PM calls for run-off amid protests

Haiti’s interim leader Evans Paul has called for peace in the Caribbean country after weeks of unrest due to botched elections.

Paul, a prime minister under former President Michel Martelly, was approved by parliament to head the troubled nation until an interim president is chosen.

“The most important thing for me is not who is going to be provisional president or prime minister, but who will be responsible for the country, so as to take Haiti away from this state of confusion and assure the public with good administrative management and policies which can improve the conditions of the Haitian people,” Evans Paul, Hatian Prime Minister said.

Opposition leaders and some residents have however rejected this agreement.

“It’s a dishonour for the Haitian people that in the land of Desalin (revolutionary leader) we are led by Martelly, who had five years and didn’t have normal elections. That is a great dishonour. Evans Paul has no place here,” Ilis Lami, a local resident said.

The country’s election commission has postponed run-off elections twice amid violence and allegations of fraud.

Haiti is experiencing its worst political crisis in decades. Nevertheless, the country’s parliament is set to elect an interim president for a term of 120 days.

A new round of elections have been penned for April 24 and the elected president will be sworn in May 14.