During a Thursday afternoon phone call with reporters, Kenneth Merten was asked by The Associated Press if the U.S. still recognized Privert as Haiti's provisional leader even though his 120-day mandate ended midnight Tuesday under the terms of a negotiated accord that brought him to power.

Merten responded: "I would have to say I would recognize him as the interim president of Haiti" at this time. But he stressed that Haitian electoral authorities should "act soon to clarify that."

The U.S. official's comments are significant because a Haitian opposition coalition insists that Privert is unlawfully holding onto power and is exhorting the international community, Haiti's police force and civil society to view him as entirely illegitimate. The United States is Haiti's largest donor and trading partner and has long had significant influence here.

At a Thursday press conference at an upscale hotel in Port-au-Prince, opposition leader Evans Paul called on people across the Caribbean country of just over 10 million to join together peacefully to demand Privert's departure. Paul is a veteran politician and former prime minister in ex-President Michel Martelly's administration.

But this week's planned street protests by Martelly's Tet Kale political faction failed to materialize in Haiti's capital. While some anti-Privert demonstrations have taken place outside the capital in recent days the country is largely calm amid the latest phase of politician-stoked discord.

Also failing to materialize for a third straight day is a National Assembly vote on Privert's fate. Lawmakers are tasked with deciding whether to extend Privert's mandate until new presidential elections can be held or pave the way for new interim leader.

Cholzer Chancy, the acting leader of the National Assembly, has demanded that senators and deputies return to Parliament to vote. But many legislators aren't paying any attention to him and are instead continuing with their backroom negotiations and delays.

Meanwhile, U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric said Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is deeply concerned at Haiti's continuing political uncertainty and called on legislators to urgently decide on a provisional government "that can ensure the completion of the electoral process and a return to full constitutional order without further delays."

In a Wednesday national address, Privert insisted he would stay in office until the divided Parliament voted. In February, a majority of members elected him as a short-term interim leader amid suspended elections and another institutional vacuum in the presidency.

"My government is still working. I am available to go to Parliament as soon as they are ready to make a decision," Privert said in the televised address.

Haitian electoral officials recently announced that a new presidential election will be held in October with safeguards to avoid the fraud that marred last year's voting. But Merten said the U.S. was "disappointed" with this decision because Haiti could have avoided the muddle it finds itself in now if it had stuck to agreed-upon timetables.

"The longer it takes for Haiti to have a democratically elected president, the longer it will take for the United States to consider renewed partnerships to help Haiti confront its mounting economic, climatic, and health challenges," he said. (ags)

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