Haiti president meets with opposition amid unrest

A photograph of Senate President Simon Dieseul Desras sits on his desk during an interview at his office in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2014. "We need a new government as soon as possible," Desras said. "I think it's a complex and politically turbulent moment in Haiti." Desras said that while his name is apparently on the list of candidates for interim prime minister, he doesn't know yet if he would seek the position. Haiti's President Michel Martelly met Wednesday with opposition leaders in a bid to stabilize the politically fractious country as pressure mounted on him to appoint an interim prime minister. (AP Photo/Dieu Nalio Chery) A photograph of Senate President Simon Dieseul Desras sits on his desk during an interview at his office in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2014. "We need a new government as soon as possible," Desras said. "I think it's a complex and politically turbulent moment in Haiti." Desras said that while his name is apparently on the list of candidates for interim prime minister, he doesn't know yet if he would seek the position. Haiti's President Michel Martelly met Wednesday with opposition leaders in a bid to stabilize the politically fractious country as pressure mounted on him to appoint an interim prime minister. (AP Photo/Dieu Nalio Chery)

By Associated Press December 17, 2014 3 min read

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) – Haiti President Michel Martelly met Wednesday with opposition leaders in a bid to stabilize the politically fractious country as pressure mounted on him to appoint an interim prime minister.

The meetings are Martelly’s latest response to the recommendations of an independent commission he established to end a political stalemate over delayed legislative elections. Among the recommendations was that former prime minister Laurent Lamothe should resign, which he did early Sunday following days of violent protests in which at least one person was killed.

“All I have to say is that the meeting went well,” Martelly told reporters briefly as he left a hotel in Port-au-Prince where the meeting was held. “We agreed to continue the discussion.”

Opposition leaders said they talked about how Martelly could implement the recommendations, which include removing the electoral council and replacing it with new members and releasing several people the opposition considers political prisoners.

“The people in the street are not going to demobilize,” said Rosemond Pradel, general secretary of the opposition Fusion party. “(Martelly) must satisfy the recommendations.”