ARTICLE - MANIGAT VISITED WASHINGTON

HAITIAN CANDIDATE MANIGAT VISITED WASHINGTON: OAS
(AFP) -

WASHINGTON — Haitian presidential candidate Mirlande Manigat visited the US capital in recent days but left earlier than expected, a senior OAS official said Thursday.

It was unclear why Manigat -- a 70 year-old former first lady who led the first round of Haiti's presidential election in late November -- came to Washington.

"I did not meet with her, I spoke to her over the phone (late Saturday), very briefly," Organization of American States Assistant Secretary General Albert Ramdin told AFP. "I understand she left sooner than she had planned."

A separate, non-diplomatic source confirmed Manigat's US visit, but did not explain her motive or provide her arrival and departure dates.

A US State Department official who requested anonymity categorically denied that Manigat met with US diplomats.

The Washington-based Ramdin traveled to Guyana to brief members of the 15-nation Caribbean Community (Caricom) about the political situation in Haiti -- and when he returned on Tuesday, Manigat was gone.

"No, I don't know what the purpose (of the trip) was," said Ramdin. "We had hoped to meet during the week, but when I came back, she was gone."

The sole purpose of the telephone call was to set up a meeting, Ramdin said.

Manigat is expected to face a run-off presidential election vote in Haiti that has yet to be scheduled.

Haitian officials say Manigat will run against President Rene Preval's protege Jude Celestin in a second round.

But Washington urged Haiti to follow the recommendations of international monitors who say Celestin did not win enough votes to qualify for the run-off vote.

After analyzing tally sheets, international monitors advised that the second and third finishers should be switched, so Manigat would instead face opposition candidate Michel Martelly.

Washington told Preval to pull Celestin out of the race or risk losing US and international support.

"Sustained support from the international community, including the United States, will require a credible process that represents the will of the Haitian people," Susan Rice, the US ambassador to the United Nations, said at a UN Security Council debate on Haiti.