Haiti's interim government and the electoral council announced today they have reached agreement to declare front-runner Rene Preval the winner of Haiti's presidential elections.
"We have reached a solution to the problem," said Max Mathurin, president of the Provisional Electoral Council. "We feel a huge satisfaction at having liberated the country from a truly difficult situation.
"We acknowledge the final decision of the electoral council and salute the election of Mr Rene Preval as president of the republic of Haiti," Prime Minister Gerard Latortue said.
Last week's election had triggered massive street protests by backers of Mr Preval, who said fraud was being carried out to deprive him of the 50 per cent plus one vote needed for a first-round victory.
The announcement of the agreement came after government and electoral officials met past midnight in electoral council offices.
AP