PM wants elections held by year end

PORT-AU-PRINCE (AP):

The Haitian government is promising to hold legislative and local elections before the end of the year.

Prime Minister Laurent Lamothe said at a news conference in Washington, DC, yesterday that the vote will require about US$16 million to become a reality.

The election seeks to fill 10 seats in the 30-member Senate. The terms of those seats expired in May because elections weren't held in time.

The race will include posts for mayors throughout the country.

Haitian President Michel Martelly announced last month the creation of a permanent election panel to oversee the vote. He named a director to the nine-member body, but the other seats have yet to be filled.