Wednesday, February 15, 2006
PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) -- A stinking, flyblown garbage dump, more than two miles down a pitted dirt road from a highway, lies at the center of the controversy over Haiti's presidential election.
Thousands of ballots, official electoral bags and other materials from the Feb. 7 elections have been found in the dump north of the capital.
Some officials said the ballots may have been left there by someone seeking to discredit the elections aimed at installing a new government in the wake of a bloody rebellion that toppled President Jean-Bertrand Aristide in February 2004.
But supporters of Rene Preval, who have taken to the streets to protest alleged fraud they say is denying their candidate a first-round victory, claim the dumped election materials is evidence. The discovery of the dumped ballots fueled the protests after they were first announced on Haitian TV Tuesday night.
The interim government said an investigation has been launched.