known in U.N. circles by its acronym MINUSTAH -- came up for renewal in May. "I think this will have a very good impact on our efforts to adopt a new resolution for enlarging or expanding the mandate of MINUSTAH next month," he said. There are now about 1,400 international police officers in Haiti along with 6,200 U.N. soldiers. "On the electoral process, it is essential that preparatory work is accelerated and that the election takes place as scheduled," said French Ambassador Jean-Marc de la Sabliere. "We think it is possible. Our message is elections can take place on time, and when we go back to New York we will see what we can do to help," he told Reuters. In a council meeting with political leaders, 14 different parties sent representatives. Several sent more than one, including Aristide's powerful Lavalas Family party, which sent four. Ambassadors said the four could not agree among themselves on whether they would participate in the vote. Council members said they hoped Lavalas would enter the race but would have to renounce violence to do so. "There is a lot of work for them to do to find reconciliation," de la Sabliere said.
