UN chief says Haiti rivals must end vote crisis

Election ballots are seen in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, on November 2010. UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said Friday that "irregularities" in Haiti's presidential election were worse than first reported and called for urgent action to avoid a new crisis in the country.

AFP - UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said Friday that "irregularities" in Haiti's presidential election were worse than first reported and called for urgent action to avoid a new crisis in the country.

Ban also appealed for new international funds to battle Haiti's cholera epidemic, while Cuba announced that it is sending another 300 doctors to the stricken nation to help treat victims.

Results from Haiti's presidential election are not due to be announced until next Tuesday but 12 of the 18 candidates have already called for the vote to be annulled because of fraud and violence.

"While some violence and disruptions on election day are not exceptional in Haiti, the irregularities now seem more serious than initially thought," the UN chief told a UN General Assembly meeting on Haiti.

"Whatever the complaints or reservations about the process, I urge all political actors to refrain from violence and to start discussions immediately to find a Haitian solution to these problems -- before a serious crisis develops," he added.

"All involved must respect, and be seen to be respecting, the legal framework. Political leaders must put the national interest ahead of personal and partisan ambitions," he said.

The head of the UN operation in Haiti has warned that the mission could be withdrawn if the results of the vote are not respected by all parties.

And Ban warned: "Any social unrest in the coming days will hinder cholera victims from receiving life saving treatment." He made an urgent appeal for funds to battle the cholera epidemic that has already killed more than 1,800 people since mid-October.

Ban said that because of the difficulty getting accurate figures, the true number of dead could be twice as high.

He said a UN appeal for 164 million dollars made last month has only been 20 percent funded by international donations. "I ask you urgently to help meet the appeal in full," he said adding that the UN figures appeal figure was "conservative."

"Almost certainly they will have to be revised upwards," he said. "This will not be a short term crisis, we cannot think short term in our response. Millions of people look to us for immediate survival."

Without international help to rebuild infrastructure after a January earthquake that left 250,000 dead and supply clean water to counter the epidemic, "Haiti has no sustainable future, no hope for a better future," Ban said.

Cuba's UN ambassador Leo Brouwer said that his country would be sending another 300 doctors and nurses to join the 900 already in the impoverished nation battling the cholera crisis.

Brouwer said the 38 Cuban medical centers in Haiti would be increased to 49