Haiti

Haiti's parliament approved a new government early Friday, a step toward holding a delayed runoff presidential election in a country mired in political chaos.

Deeply concerned by the continued suspension of electoral rounds in Haiti, the United Nations Security Council today called for the completion of the polling cycle without further delay to allow the Haitian people the opportunity to vote for their elected representatives in a free, fair, inclusive and transparent contest.

A legal battle by the Haitian victims of a cholera epidemic against the United Nations reached its highest level in an American court on Tuesday, as lawyers for the plaintiffs were permitted to argue before a federal appeals panel why they believe the United Nations is not entitled to immunity. … The outcome of the case … could have enormous implications for the United Nations.

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, as well as the UN and its partners in Haiti, have welcomed the 14 February election by the Haitian National Assembly of Jocelerme Privert as the island nation's interim President, one week after the departure of former President Michel Martelly.

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today welcomed the agreement reached by Haitian stakeholders, noting that it provides for immediate arrangements to preserve the institutional continuity of the country as well as a roadmap for the swift conclusion of the ongoing electoral cycle.

The president, Michel Martelly, left office amid an electoral crisis that underscored how Haiti has struggled to maintain democratic order since the 1986 ouster of Jean-Claude Duvalier.

With a political vacuum now a real possibility in Haiti after presidential and legislative elections were postponed indefinitely, Sandra Honore, chief of the UN's MINUSTAH mission, rejected accusations of international interference.

Haiti has abandoned plans to hold a presidential run-off election following street clashes, leaving the Caribbean nation in political limbo. The US had encouraged the country to go forward with the vote.

Haiti's opposition presidential candidate Jude Celestin said Monday he will not participate in a planned run-off, calling it a farce with only one candidate.