A round-up of today's other stories in brief...
Most presidential candidates renounce turbulent Haitian poll
PORT-AU-PRINCE – Haiti’s political future hung in the balance yesterday after Sunday’s turbulent elections were roiled by popular protests and repudiated by most of the presidential candidates.
The international community faces a difficult decision of whether to endorse the poll, which was at best confused and at worst flawed. This could complicate hopes of achieving a stable, legitimate government to lead the Caribbean country’s recovery from the devastating earthquake of January 12th.
A declaration by local electoral authorities that the poll had largely been a success flew in the face of widespread popular anger over voting problems and a public denunciation of “massive fraud” by 12 of the 18 presidential contenders.
Musician Michel “Sweet Micky” Martelly, one of the poll front-runners who had called on Sunday for an annulment, changed his stance and said his candidacy had been leading in polling stations where there had not been fraud. – (Reuters)
Mexican drug cartel seeks truce
MORELIA, Michoacan – The brutal cult-like cartel that dominates drug production in Mexico’s Michoacan state has made a perplexing call for a truce with the federal government.
Early in November, banners were strung up in several towns signed by the cartel known as “La Familia” (The Family).
They said the gang would disband if the federal government promised to defend the region from other drug gangs. “If the government accepts this public commitment and achieves it, La Familia Michoacana will dissolve,” the banners read.
Mexican president Felipe Calderon says there will be no negotiations with traffickers. – (Reuters)
Somali pirate jailed for 30 years
WASHINGTON – A Somali man who pleaded guilty to his role in an attack against the USS Ashland warship in April was sentenced on Monday to 30 years in prison, the first sentencing in a US piracy case in more than 150 years.
Jama Idle Ibrahim (38), was one of six men brought to the US and charged with the April 10th attack on the warship in the Gulf of Aden. They mistook the ship for a merchant vessel.
In August, Ibrahim pleaded guilty to attacking to plunder a vessel, acts of violence against persons on a vessel, and use of a firearm.
Last week, a jury in Virginia convicted five Somalis on piracy and related charges for a separate April 1st attack on the USS Nicholas navy frigate. – (Reuters)