Top Election Official Reportedly Flees

Haiti’s top election official fled his violence-prone country, fearing for his life after he refused to approve results for last month’s contested legislative and local elections, sources said. Leon Manus’ stealthy exodus over the weekend to the U.S. threw more doubts on elections seen as Haiti’s last hope for democracy. The United States, the United Nations and the Organization of American States have also challenged the system used to count the votes from the first-round elections, which gave former President Jean-Bertrand Aristide’s party control of the Senate. Dozens more seats depend on a second round of voting set for Sunday.