The final results of the first round of the election will be announced on Wednesday, February 2. The run-off elections will be held on March 20 with its results to be announced as early as March 31, the state-run BBC reported.
Aside from former first lady Mirlande Manigat, it is not clear who the other candidates will be.
The ruling Inite (Unity) Party announced that Jude Celestin, who originally claimed more votes than the popular singer Michel Martelly, would withdraw from the runoffs after international observers confirmed widespread fraud in the November 28 elections.
Celestin has not confirmed his exit from the race, however. Celestin's legal adviser Wesny Fevry told Reuters, "Politically Mr. Celestin is out of the race. Diplomatically there are a lot of pressures to put Mr. Celestin out. But legally Mr. Celestin is still in the race."
The announcement comes as US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton prepares to travel to Haiti on Sunday to hold talks with incumbent President Rene Preval.
Talks will focus on the contested election, the cholera outbreak which has killed over 4,000 people, and the rebuilding of Haiti after more than a year since its devastating earthquake, AFP said.
Protests erupted across Haiti after the results of the November 28 election were announced, with most international observers contending that the first round of voting was grossly mismanaged.
Outrage was also directed towards incumbent President Rene Preval, who came to power after a coup d'état against democratically-elected President Jean Bertrand Aristide in February 2004.
Members of Aristide's popular Fanmi Lavalas party were barred from taking part in the November elections.
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Source : Press TV
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