WGBA -Haiti bans prominent party from 2010 election
Member Center:
Oil platform explodes, catches fire off La. coast; all 13 crew members are rescued from Gulf More>>
In early sign of promise, Israel, Palestinians agree to work on outline of final peace deal More>>
Arizona governor stumbles during debate with painful and lengthy pause More>>
Video of vehicle chase shows man jumping from van, getting shot by sheriff's deputies in Ohio More>>
Coast Guard backs off earlier report of oil sheen from Gulf platform explosion off La. coast More>>
East Coast braces for 125 mph winds, rain from Earl; watches and warnings from NC to Canada More>>
Israel, Palestinians to produce outline of final peace deal, agree to second round of talks More>>
Hurricane warning issued for Mass. as East Coast braces for weekend pounding by Earl More>>
Coast Guard: a mile-long oil sheen spreading from site of burning Gulf platform off La. coast More>>
PORT-AU-PRINCE, (AP) - Haiti's electoral council has banned the influential party of exiled former President Jean-Bertrand Aristide from next year's legislative elections.
The Fanmi Lavalas party, which remains a major party with support from the capital's urban poor, is among 17 groups barred from February's elections because they submitted improper documents. The list includes the Lespwa movement that formed around President Rene Preval when he ran for president in 2004.
Aristide, who has been living in exile in South Africa after he was overthrown during a 2004 rebellion, called the decision to eliminate Lavalas "an electoral coup d'etat." He spoke in an interview late Wednesday with Radio Solidarite.
Lespwa officials did not answer phone calls seeking comment on Thursday.
The Lavalas party boycotted Senate run-off elections in June after the council disqualified its candidates on a technicality, and was barred from 2006 presidential elections.
Lavalas executive council head Maryse Narcisse told The Associated Press on Thursday she did not understand why the party was rejected.
"We did everything that we were supposed to do," she said. "We were excluded without any reasons, and now we are waiting for an answer."
The council approved 53 parties to run in the elections. The vote is now scheduled for Feb. 28, but might be postponed to coincide with presidential elections later in the year. Rejected parties can appeal.
Haiti's legislature chose a new prime minister last week as tensions remain high over the presence of 9,000 U.N. peacekeepers, who arrived in the impoverished country after the 2004 rebellion.
Jean-Max Bellerive is the sixth prime minister to hold the post since 2004.
Copyright 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
