Wyclef 'death threats' as Haiti president bid delayed

Page last updated at 10:01 GMT, Wednesday, 18 August 2010 11:01 UK

Greg Cochrane By Greg Cochrane
Newsbeat music reporter Wyclef Jean Wyclef says he is in "hiding" following a series of death threats

Singer Wyclef Jean says he is in "hiding" after receiving death threats since announcing his plans to run for president of Haiti.

Jean told The Associated Press he had received a series of warnings, including a phone call telling him to "get out of Haiti".

The singer's plans have stirred controversy in the Caribbean country with his ex-bandmate Pras Michel and actor Sean Penn among those criticising his bid.

Haiti's electoral commission has also postponed its ruling on who will be allowed to run for president until 20 August.

Delayed announcement

The commission have said they need more time to consider the applications of those who want to run.

There is a question mark over whether Jean qualifies to run for president under Haitian laws which stipulate a candidate must have lived in the country for five consecutive years. Jean has not.

Before the deadline on 8 August, more than 30 people had filed to run for president of the country.

Haiti is still struggling to recover from January's earthquake which left over 250,000 dead.

Since officially announcing his intentions Wyclef's bid has been criticised by his ex-Fugees bandmate Pras Michel.

He said: "I want to make it unequivocally clear I love Wyclef to def [sic] but he's not [qualified] to be the leader of the new Haiti.

"Wyclef's patriotism for Haiti is unwavering but still isn't suited to prez [sic] of new Haiti!"

Haiti's presidential elections are due to take place on 28 November.

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