PORT AU PRINCE, Haiti (CMC) — The Provisional Electoral Council (CEP) says it is postponing the December 27 presidential run-off elections but gave no date as to when the polls will be held.

The CEP also announced that the parliamentary run-offs and local elections which were also scheduled for that day have been postponed.

The move by the CEP follows demands by opposition groups for it to halt the elections that have been marred by allegations of vote rigging and other irregularities.

The opposition groups have staged various street demonstrations accusing the CEP of siding with Jovenel Moise, the government-backed candidate. The other candidate in the race is Jude CÃ&Copy;lestin, the former head of the state-owned construction agency.

In a statement late Monday night, electoral officials noted that the run-off is pending the report of an electoral commission charged with evaluating the October 25 presidential election.

Council spokesman, Roudy Stanley Penn, said a new date will be announced once a commission created by presidential decree has concluded its work.

The five-member commission was announced by President Michel Martelly last Thursday and was supposed to have provided recommendations to the government and elections officials last weekend.

But four days after its formation, the commission’s members still haven’t been sworn in amid controversy over the body’s make-up and terms of reference.

Opposition groups as well as religious clergy have all asked for an independent Haitian-led commission to do an inquiry into the vote.

The office of Prime Minister Evans Paul said an evaluation commission was expected to be installed yesterday.

President Michel Martelly, who is blocked by the constitution from seeking a third consecutive term, is due to leave office on February 7 next year.