Wyclef Jean reacts to 'death threats' from hideout

Page last updated at 09:57 GMT, Thursday, 19 August 2010 10:57 UK

E-mail this to a friend

Ex-Fugees singer Wyclef Jean says that death threats "come with the territory" and that he won't be put off from trying to stand as president of Haiti.

Accompanied by an armed guard and other supporters, he said: "In the past couple of days we have received a few death threats.

"Just for our safety we came to an area where we feel is secured - that is my town.

"We're in an area where we're comfortable, the area where we were at before, we weren't comfortable.

"We know this situation we've embarked on, death threats come with the territory. But beyond that it's not about all those negative information (sic)."

The 37-year-old has moved his team to his childhood town after getting 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.

'We have proof'

There is a question mark over whether Jean qualifies to run for president - Haitian laws say a candidate must have lived in the country for five consecutive years.

Wyclef has not, having spent most of his life in the US.

However he said his work as an 'ambassador' for current president, Rene Preval, meant he fulfilled the criteria.

"The issue of residency, we have proof, five years.

If after Friday we're not approved I will continue doing what I've been doing in Haiti.

Wyclef Jean

"Every piece of paper that the commission, the electoral council have asked for, we have delivered," he said.

"So by law, we have everything."

The singer also said he would publish the documents online to prove he is legally entitled to run for the top job.

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

The country is still struggling to recover from January's earthquake which left more than 250,000 people dead.

Jean said that if he wasn't allowed to run for president he would carry on his work in helping to develop the country.

"If after Friday we're not approved I will continue doing what I've been doing in Haiti.

"We'll be respected as a political force. The important thing is I hope we can be part of the big plan."

Wyclef Jean reacts to 'death threats' from hideout

Bookmark with

On Newsbeat today

Top stories

See also

Related BBC links

Related internet links

shared

read

watched/listened

Browse Newsbeat

Related BBC sites

Products & services

bbc.co.uk navigation

BBC links