海角大神

Haiti鈥檚 designated Prime Minister Ariel Henry will replace the country鈥檚 interim prime minister to honor the wishes of the country鈥檚 slain president, an official told The Associated Press on Monday.

It wasn鈥檛 immediately clear how quickly interim Prime Minister Claude Joseph, who has been leading Haiti with the backing of police and the military since the July 7 assassination of President Jovenel Mo茂se, would step down.

鈥淣egotiations are still in course,鈥� Haiti Elections Minister Mathias Pierre said, adding that Mr. Joseph would go back to being minister of foreign affairs.

Mr. Joseph could not be immediately reached for comment, and Mr. Henry did not return a message for comment.

The change follows a statement Saturday from a key group of international diplomats that appeared to snub Mr. Joseph as it called for the creation of 鈥渁 consensual and inclusive government.鈥�

鈥淭o this end, it strongly encourages the designated Prime Minister Ariel Henry to continue the mission entrusted to him to form such a government,鈥� the statement from the Core Group said.

The Core Group is composed of ambassadors from Germany, Brazil, Canada, Spain, the United States, France, the European Union, and representatives from the United Nations and the Organization of American States.

The U.N., OAS, and U.S. State Department did not offer further explanation when contacted.

Monique Clesca, a Haitian writer, activist, and former U.N. official, said she doesn鈥檛 anticipate any changes under Mr. Henry, whom she expects to carry on Mr. Mo茂se鈥檚 legacy. But she warned that Mr. Henry might be viewed as tainted because of the Core Group鈥檚 involvement.

鈥淚f he accepts this, there is not only a perception, but the reality that he has been put there by the international community, and I think that鈥檚 his burden to carry,鈥� she said.

鈥淲hat we鈥檙e calling for is for Haitians to really say this is unacceptable. We do not want the international community stating who ought to be in power and what ought to be done. It is up to us.鈥�

Mr. Mo茂se designated Mr. Henry as prime minister a day before he was killed, but he had not been sworn in. The neurosurgeon was previously minister of social affairs and interior minister. He has belonged to several political parties including Inite, which was founded by former President Ren茅 Pr茅val.

First lady鈥檚 return

The Core Group statement was issued hours after Mr. Mo茂se鈥檚 wife, Martine, arrived in Haiti on Saturday aboard a private jet clad in black and wearing a bulletproof vest. She has not issued a statement or spoken publicly as the government prepares for the July 23 funeral that will be held in the northern city of Port-au-Prince.聽Other events to honor Mr. Mo茂se are planned this week in the capital of Port-au-Prince ahead of the funeral.

Some experts 鈥撀爈ike many in this country of more than 11 million people 鈥撀爓ere surprised at how quickly Ms. Mo茂se reappeared in Haiti and questioned whether she plans to become involved in the country鈥檚 politics.

鈥淭he fact that she returned could suggest she intends to play some role,鈥� said Laurent Dubois, a Haiti expert and Duke University professor. 鈥淪he may intervene in one way or another.鈥�

Search for a resolution

Authorities in Haiti and Colombia say at least 18 suspects directly linked to the killing have been arrested, the majority of them former Colombian soldiers. At least three suspects were killed and police say they are looking for numerous others. Colombian officials have said that the majority of former soldiers were duped and did not know of the assassination plot.

Police in Haiti on Sunday identified another suspect in the case: Pierre Joseph Ashkard. Online records show he is a Canadian-based businessman who runs a medical business in Texas with 海角大神 Emmanuel Sanon, a Haitian physician and pastor whom local authorities recently arrested and consider a key suspect.

A day after the killing, U.S. State Department spokesman Ned Price had said Mr. Joseph was the incumbent in the position and was serving as acting prime minister before the assassination: 鈥淲e continue to work with Claude Joseph as such,鈥� he said.

On July 11, a delegation of representatives from various U.S. agencies traveled to Haiti to review critical infrastructure, talk with Haitian National Police, and meet with Mr. Joseph, Mr. Henry, and Haitian Senate President Joseph Lambert in a joint meeting.

The deepening political turmoil has prompted dozens of Haitians to visit the U.S. embassy in Port-au-Prince in recent days to seek a visa or political asylum.

鈥淲e can鈥檛 stay anymore in the country,鈥� said Jim Kenneth, a student who would like to study medicine in the U.S. 鈥淲e feel very insecure.鈥�

This story was reported by The Associated Press.