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Haiti elections delayed again

Haiti`s electoral board on Friday again postponed the first elections since the ouster of President Jean-Bertrand Aristide, saying it needs more time to organize the vote in the impoverished country. The Provisional Electoral Council set a new date of Janunary 8 for presidential and legislative elections, followed by a February 15 runoff.

The election delay marks the fourth date officials have set for elections to replace the interim government installed after a rebellion helped force out the unpopular Aristide in February of last year.

Haitian Provisional Electoral Council members said they would be unable to set up polling sites by December 27, 2005 - the election date announced last week by interim Prime Minister Gerard Latortue - because of crumbling infrastructure and a lack of trained workers.