(21 Apr 2006)
1. Wide of presidential palace
2. Haitian flag
3. Wide of United Nations (UN) soldiers manning checkpoint
4. Close-up of UN soldier in armoured vehicle
5. Various of UN soldiers searching car at check point
6. Wide of Haitian Parliament building
7. Various of political propaganda on streets of Port-au-Prince
8. Minustah spokesperson Damian Onses-Cardona talking to media
9. SOUNDBITE: (Spanish) Damian Onses-Cardona, Minustah spokesperson:
"I think that''s true, there were some logistical errors made. There have been some important meetings over the last two and half months between the first and second rounds, (and) serious analysis throughout the different region and the various departments (and) long, long meetings to review what errors were made and to take new measures."
10. Wide of election banner over street
11. Elections posters on wall
12. Various of UN vote counting centre Port-au-Prince
STORYLINE:
After two years of political chaos, Haitians prepared to take the final step in their delayed return to democracy with a legislative runoff on Friday intended to restore the first popularly elected government since a bloody revolt ousted President Jean-Bertrand Aristide.
Haitians will vote for 27 seats in parliament - 97 deputies and 30 senators - in a second round of elections marking the transition from a provisional to a permanent government.
President-elect Rene Preval''s "Lespwa" party is likely to capture the largest number of seats, but will probably fall short of a majority and will have to forge a coalition government, observers say.
Millions of eligible voters are expected to participate in the elections with thousands of candidates vying for a seat in parliament.
United Nations (UN) officials say they are ready for this final stage in Haiti''s difficult transition from a provisional government to permanently installed elected officials.
The presidential elections earlier this year were marred by charges of fraud and disarray, something Minustah spokesman Damian Onses-Cardona said will not occur with this final stage.
Onses-Cardona said the UN had learned from mistakes, adding "we have put a great effort in fixing those problems."
Some 12,000 UN soldiers, UN police and Haitian National Police will be deployed to provide security for the elections.
The UN has also established several "Rapid Deployment" forces around the country to deal with any outbreaks of violence.
The UN and the Provisional Government, under Interim Prime Minister Gerard Latortue, have been under pressure to finish the election cycle and permanently install an elected government.
This will mark the first time an elected government will be in power in Haiti since Aristide fled the country in February of 2004.
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