Preval urges backers to calm down

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti — Even as he alleged a "gigantic fraud" designed to sabotage his presidential victory, Rene Preval urged supporters on Tuesday to tone down massive demonstrations that have paralyzed Haiti the past two days.

The remarks seemed to signal a period of calm as diplomats and other candidates rushed to rescue an election process perilously close to collapse. They must now examine ballots and possibly negotiate a compromise to avoid a runoff election that some fear could plunge the country into chaos.

Several leading candidates declared their support for Preval on Haitian radio Monday and Tuesday. But Leslie Manigat, who finished second, said he would not drop out from the race. Neither would third-place finisher Charles Henri Baker, a wealthy industrialist.

About 10 percent of about 2.2 million ballots cast remained to be tallied, but some ballot reports are missing or were damaged in unexplained incidents after the election on Feb. 7, the secretary general of the Provisional Electoral Council said Tuesday.

Of the 2.2 million ballots cast, about 125,000 ballots were ruled invalid because of irregularities, such as the way the ballot was marked. Another 4 percent of the ballots were blank but added into the total, which Preval supporters say make it harder for him to get the 50 percent plus one vote needed to win without a runoff.

All of these practices were part of the agreed-upon election rules, said Rosemond Pradel, a former Pembroke Pines, Fla., resident. He is a member of the nine-person council supervising the first elections since President Jean-Bertrand Aristide was ousted in a rebellion two years ago.

Preval, who leads a 33-man field with 48.7 percent, said he was willing to "analyze" the returns but was adamant about being the winner. His party's reports and at least one other tabulation he cited showed he had the simple majority needed for a first-round victory.

"We are sure of having won in the first round," Preval calmly told reporters. "We are convinced there was a gigantic fraud and gross errors that affected the process."

As he made the charges — unsubstantiated by either the United Nations or other independent election observers — Preval urged the throngs burning tires and besieging election offices in his name to march peacefully and respect property.

"We want you, the Haitian people, to be mature and to be nonviolent," Preval said. "You have to keep on demonstrating, protesting ... but you have to do it respecting everything that belongs to people, their houses, their cars, their lives."