Haiti: Singer 'should get poll place'

Haiti's government-backed candidate should be eliminated from the presidential run-off election in favour of a popular musician who finished a close third in the contested official results, according to the Organisation of American States.

A report from the body says carnival singer Michel Martelly would end up in second place with 22.2 per cent after having 7,150 votes ruled invalid. Ruling party candidate Jude Celestin would drop to third place with 21.9 per cent after losing 17,220 votes. Former first lady Mirlande Manigat would remain in the lead with 31.6 per cent of the vote after having 13,830 of her votes thrown out.

OAS experts found that tens of thousands more votes than previously thought should be discarded because poll officials did not follow procedures or because there were signs that the tally sheets had been altered.

President Ren Prval is not expected to respond publicly to the OAS report until after tomorrow's anniversary of the earthquake.