Haiti Bombings Continue; 1 Killed, 2 Hurt

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti —  Two bombs exploded in a suburb of Haiti’s capital Thursday, killing a 7-year-old girl on her way to school and injuring two other people in a second day of violence ahead of Sunday’s presidential election.

The bombs exploded in separate locations in suburban Carrefour, the independent Radio Metropole reported. Police defused a third bomb found across the street from the Organization of American States headquarters in the upscale neighborhood of Petionville.

Violence has cast a shadow over the election, which is expected to be won by former President Jean-Bertrand Aristide. Seven bombs exploded Wednesday, killing a teenage boy and injuring at least 14 on busy streets in and around Port-au-Prince.

The name of the girl killed Thursday was not immediately available. Protesters enraged by her death set up burning tire barricades to block Carrefour Road, one of the capital’s main thoroughfares.

Fearing for the safety of their students, many schools have canceled classes until Tuesday.

The U.S. State Department warned Americans last Saturday not to visit Haiti and advised family members of U.S. government officials to leave.

American Airlines canceled flights Sunday and Monday “due to civil unrest surrounding the elections,” according to an airline reservations agent who would not give her name. Air France also called off flights, the French Embassy said.

Main opposition parties have boycotted the race, charging that local and legislative elections earlier this year were rigged by the government in favor of Aristide’s Lavalas Family party, which won more than 80% of the seats. Aristide’s Lavalas Family party and opposition spokesmen have accused each other of being responsible for the recent surge of violence.

The United States, Canada and the European Union will not be sending foreign aid or observers to the election because the Haitian government refused to recount tainted votes from a parliamentary election in May.