Fugees frontman Wyclef Jean shot in Haiti hours before voting starts

Haitian-born singer Wyclef Jean in August last year after submitting paperwork to run for president. He was told he could not run because he had not lived in the country for five years prior to the election. He is now backing Michel Martelly in today’s vote

The
American-Haitian singer’s own bid for president ended when he was
disqualified from standing last August. The country’s constitution
requires candidates to have lived there for five years before an
election and Jean lives in the U.S.

Haiti’s
voters are due to go to the ballot box later today to pick a president
to lead a country where anger with the government runs deep and nearly a
million people are living on the streets.

The
election is clouded with uncertainty over the return of ousted former
President Jean-Bertrand Aristide, a popular but divisive figure whose
mere presence was considered by the U.S. government and others as a
possible threat to the vote.

Alongside
political new-comer ‘Sweet Micky’ Martelly, a star of Haitian compas
music, is Mirlande Manigat, the former first lady and law professor.

Both
emerged as the top two finishers in a first-round vote in November with
18 candidates that was marred by fraud and disorganization.

Whoever
wins will face major challenges, including a Senate and Chamber of
Deputies controlled by the party of outgoing President Rene Preval, who
was barred by the constitution from running for re-election, and
re-building the nation crippled by last year’s huge earthquake.

Jean in action with the Fugees when he was their frontman