PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti — President Michel Martelly said Friday night that he accepted all the findings of a report this week from a government-appointed commission, including its recommendation that the prime minister resign.

Martelly said during a brief televised speech that Prime Minister Laurent Lamothe was ready to make a sacrifice and resign, although he did not say that Lamothe would step down. Lamothe was at the announcement but did not speak.

Martelly said he would meet with other government officials Monday, while stressing his view that Lamothe had been helping move the country forward.

The president appointed the 11-member commission Nov. 28 to help break a political stalemate that has held up long-delayed legislative and municipal elections that have led to violent protests in recent days.

The commission released its report this week, recommending among other things that Lamothe step down to allow creation of a new consensus government. The panel also called for resignations before Christmas by the president of the Supreme Court and the current members of Haiti’s Provisional Electoral Council, an institution long accused of alleged bias and votes plagued by fraud allegations.

The report also says that several “political prisoners” should be immediately released.

Martelly spoke just hours after United Nations peacekeepers fired at a crowd of protesters who demanded new leadership as they marched through the capital, Port-au-Prince, burning tires and clashing with U.N. troops and police, who also fired tear gas. Associated Press journalists did not observe injuries or deaths.


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