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Two policemen injured in Haiti election protests

Wednesday, 25 November 2015 9:15 AM [ Last Update: Wednesday, 25 November 2015 9:15 AM ]

Barricades are placed by demonstrators on the street during a protest in Port-au-Prince, on November 24, 2015. (AFP photo)

At least two policemen have been injured after clashes erupted between opposition supporters and police forces during a protest against presidential election results in Haiti’s capital, Port-au-Prince.

One of the policemen was wounded after a protester opened fire, while the other was injured by demonstrators throwing rocks during the gathering on Tuesday.

The violence came as supporters of different opposition groups gathered to protest the results of the first round of the country’s presidential elections, which were released on Monday by the Haitian Provisional Electoral Council.

On November 24, the electoral commission said that Jovenel Moise, who is backed by the ruling party, and opposition candidate, Jude Celestin, had come out as the two top winners of the first round of the presidential election held on October 25.

The commission added that Moise had won 32.8 percent of the votes, while Celestin gained 25.3 percent.

Outgoing Haitian President Michel Martelly receives his ballot to vote at a polling station in the Lycee National de Petion Ville in Port-au-Prince on October 25, 2015. (AFP photo)

The final announcement was made after Haitian officials counted the ballots and resolved challenges. The runoff is expected to be held on December 27.

Moise, 47, is backed by outgoing President Michel Martelly, who took office in 2011, one year after a deadly earthquake which killed some 250,000 people and left the country’s infrastructure crippled.

The Americas’ poorest country is still struggling to cope with the catastrophe. According to the rights group Amnesty International (AI), more than 85,000 people who became homeless as a result of the earthquake are still living in makeshift camps.

Haiti also held legislative elections in two rounds in August and October.

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