The Organisation of American States (OAS) says it will send a long-term Electoral Observation Mission to Haiti for the electoral processes expected to take place in the French-speaking Caribbean country next year, according to a report on www.cananews.net.

The OAS said it had received a request from President René Préval and that it would be sending about 80 observers to the legislative elections of February 2010, and twice that number to the presidential elections in November.

"The objective of the Electoral Observation Mission is to accompany the electoral process, identify the strengths and weaknesses of the organisation of elections with the goal of reinforcing the capabilities of the Provisional Electoral Council," the OAS said in a statement.

The OAS said it would also continue providing technical support to the Provisional Electoral Council through the training of officials to increase the autonomy of the body and to consolidate the durability of the aid provided.

It said the training will take place after the February elections and is a necessary condition for the council to be able to autonomously administer the electoral registry and the tabulation centre.