Port-Au-Prince , Haiti ( CNN ) -- Candidates wound up a flurry of election campaigning before a midnight deadline Friday night amid reports of a violent attack on one of the candidates ' campaigns . The campaign of flamboyant komba-singer-turned-presidential-candidate Michel `` Sweet Micky '' Martelly issued a statement late Friday night , claiming he had survived an `` assassination attempt '' in the town of Les Cayes in southern Haiti . `` Many wounded , at least one dead , '' the campaign said in a press release . Haitian police officials have not responded to phone calls from CNN . A spokesman for the United Nations confirmed to CNN there had been a clash in Les Cayes late Friday night , though he could not say whether there were casualties involved . `` It 's a confrontation between Martelly partisans and the ( supporters ) of another Inité senator , '' Jean-Francois Vezina , a spokesman for the United Nations police detachment in Haiti , told CNN Saturday . Inite ( Unity ) is a well-funded political party endorsed by outgoing President Rene Preval . Its presidential candidate , Jude Celestin , leads the largest block of candidates for seats in both houses of parliament , which are also up for grabs in Sunday 's election . `` The security guard of the Inite party used a weapon , '' Vezina said . `` The only thing that we 've done there is to send a Senegalese Force Police Unit to take control of the election there . '' Tensions have mounted in Haiti ahead of Sunday 's national elections , scheduled to be held within a year that saw a massive earthquake , a spreading cholera epidemic and recurring signs of government instability . Eighteen candidates are running for the post of president . Seats are also up for grabs in the Senate and in the lower house of parliament . Nearly all of the candidates have campaigned on similar platforms -- fighting corruption , creating jobs , and addressing a series of natural disasters that has left the Caribbean nation reeling and prompted many to urge for a postponement of Sunday 's vote . Haitian elections have been historically troubled by violence as well as allegations of fraud and intimidation and the run-up to Sunday 's vote has not been peaceful . Last Monday , clashes erupted between supporters of two rival candidates in another southern town , resulting in at least two deaths . `` Tempers are flaring , there is some political discontent , '' said Bernice Roberts , senior Haiti analyst with the International Crisis Group . `` There is a perpetual crisis of confidence among political actors . Plus there 's a high level of social frustration regarding the response to the earthquake , regarding the response to cholera . '' According to Haiti 's Ministry of Public Health , more than 1,600 people have died as a result of the cholera epidemic that was first discovered on the island last month . More than 60,000 people have been treated for the deadly bacteria . Religious leaders , meanwhile , have been calling for calm ahead of the vote . `` We are praying for peace on election day , '' said Max Beauvoir , Haiti 's `` Supreme Servitor , '' or highest ranking voodoo priest , in an interview with CNN on Friday . Haitian authorities are imposing strict measures to ensure security on election day . After midnight Saturday , only drivers with special passes from the Conseil Electoral Provisoir , Haiti 's main electoral body , will be able to operate cars or motorcycles anywhere on Haiti 's roadways , according to CEP spokesman Richardson Dumel . Businesses are also banned from selling alcohol from 8 p.m. Saturday until Monday , he said . Gun licenses are also temporarily suspended from Saturday night until Monday .
U.N. confirms clash between campaign supporters . At least one person was killed , the campaign of Michel Martelly says . Elections are scheduled to be held Sunday .