PORT-AU-PRINCE (CMC):

The United Nations Peacekeeping Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) has been urging voters in this French-speaking Caribbean Community country to calmly await the results of the senate elections that officials say are not likely to be known for more than a week.

In a statement, MINUSTAH said it hoped the political parties and the general population at large would "await calmly the publication of results ... and that any dispute will be pursued through legal channels".

Haitians went to the polls on Sunday to fill 11 vacant seats in the 30-member senate after a year and a half of delays caused by political infighting, riots and damaging storms.