Preval calls for calm after post-election violence

Haitian President Rene Preval called for calm on Wednesday after reports emerged that one person was shot dead and two were injured in the wake of the disputed presidential election results. Preval's ruling Inite party headquarters was set on fire after results showed that his favoured candidate, Jude Celestin, won a seat in the run off over popular singer Michel Martelly.

Reuters/Eduardo Munoz

Demonstrators took to the streets of the capital, Port-au-Prince, and around the country for the second day after the results for the run-off were announced.

On Tuesday, the protesters, angry that the pre-election opinion polls did not reflect the outcome, burned barricades of tires, while the police used tear gas.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon expressed concern over the fraud allegations, according to UN spokesperson Martin Nesirky. "He notes that these results are not final and are subject to the provisions stipulated in the electoral law," said Nesirky.

US carrier American Airlines said it was halting its daily flights to and from Haiti on Wednesday and Thursday because of the unrest.

"The airport and company's employees have been unable to get to work" in Haiti, said spokesperson Martha Pantin. "We continue to monitor the situation and hope to return as soon as possible," she added.