The Organization of American States has welcomed Haiti's release of presidential runoff election results, which show singer Michel Martelly winning by a large margin.

Haiti's electoral council released preliminary results Monday from the legislative and presidential elections on March 20.  The figures show Martelly won nearly 68 percent of the vote to defeat former first lady Mirlande Manigat.  Final results are due to be released April 16.

In a statement Tuesday, OAS Secretary-General Jose Miguel Insulza congratulated the people of Haiti for exercising their civic responsibility in a calm atmosphere, and he saluted their patience as the results were tabulated.

The United States said Haiti's vote was "an important milestone."  The U.S. Embassy in Port-au-Prince is urging Haitians to continue to express themselves peacefully in the hope that all political factions can resolve any outstanding questions about the electoral results.

Martelly has never held political office, and analysts say he has a tough job ahead.  Much of Port-au-Prince is still in ruins from the January 2010 earthquake that killed more than 200,000 people, and hundreds of thousands of Haitians still live in tent camps.