4 Suspects in Assassination of Haiti's President Moise Die in Shootout
2021-07-09
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1The head of Haiti's national police said four suspects in the assassination of President Jovenel Moise were killed in a shootout with police.
2Police Chief Léon Charles told reporters that two other suspects were arrested during the shootout late Wednesday.
3He described them as "mercenaries."
4Three police officers who were being held by the suspects were also freed.
5The search for the killers began shortly after Moise was killed during an early Wednesday morning attack at his home in the capital city of Port-au-Prince.
6Video obtained by the national police appears to show the assassins posed as agents of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency.
7Bocchit Edmond is Haiti's ambassador to the United States.
8He told VOA that he was not certain of the gunmen's nationality.
9But interim Prime Minister Claude Joseph said the gunmen spoke English and Spanish.
10Most people in Haiti speak French or Haitian Creole.
11Joseph also declared a state of emergency and said he was the country's new leader.
12His hold on power, however, is uncertain.
13Earlier in the week, President Moise nominated Ariel Henry to replace Joseph as the country's new prime minister.
14But Henry has yet to be sworn in.
15The New York Times reported Henry told a Haitian newspaper said that Joseph is "no longer Prime Minister."
16He also claimed the office for himself.
17Joseph is Haiti's sixth prime minister in the past four years.
18The country has no working parliament.
19And the head of the country's highest court died last month of COVID-19.
20First lady Martine Moise was also shot during the attack.
21She is in stable, but critical condition, the ambassador said.
22She has been moved to a hospital in Miami, Florida, for treatment.
23One of the president's children who was home during the attack has been taken to a secure place.
24U.S. President Joe Biden, in a statement, condemned Moise's assassination and wished for the first lady's recovery.
25He added the U.S. stands "ready to assist as we continue to work for a safe and secure Haiti."
26In Washington, members of the Organization of American States held an emergency meeting Wednesday and condemned the killing.
27In New York, the United Nations Security Council president, French Ambassador Nicolas de Riviere, said the council was deeply shocked by the assassination.
28The council will meet privately Thursday morning to discuss events.
29The U.N. has about 1,200 staff in Haiti as part of its political mission there.
30Amnesty International is calling for an investigation into Moise's assassination, calling it a sign of the "serious human rights and political crisis that Haiti has been facing for years."
31Haiti has been experiencing political instability and division, as well as a rise in gang violence.
32Last week in Port-au-Prince, gang leader Jimmy Cherisier took to the streets to protest Moise's government, calling for his resignation.
33"Jovenel (Moise) must go!" Cherisier told reporters during the protest.
34"A new group of people needs to lead this country, and we must sit together around a table, have a national dialogue so we can redefine this country."
35I'm Susan Shand.
1The head of Haiti's national police said four suspects in the assassination of President Jovenel Moise were killed in a shootout with police. 2Police Chief Léon Charles told reporters that two other suspects were arrested during the shootout late Wednesday. He described them as "mercenaries." Three police officers who were being held by the suspects were also freed. 3The search for the killers began shortly after Moise was killed during an early Wednesday morning attack at his home in the capital city of Port-au-Prince. Video obtained by the national police appears to show the assassins posed as agents of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency. 4Bocchit Edmond is Haiti's ambassador to the United States. He told VOA that he was not certain of the gunmen's nationality. But interim Prime Minister Claude Joseph said the gunmen spoke English and Spanish. Most people in Haiti speak French or Haitian Creole. Joseph also declared a state of emergency and said he was the country's new leader. His hold on power, however, is uncertain. 5Earlier in the week, President Moise nominated Ariel Henry to replace Joseph as the country's new prime minister. But Henry has yet to be sworn in. The New York Times reported Henry told a Haitian newspaper said that Joseph is "no longer Prime Minister." He also claimed the office for himself. 6Joseph is Haiti's sixth prime minister in the past four years. The country has no working parliament. And the head of the country's highest court died last month of COVID-19. 7First lady Martine Moise was also shot during the attack. She is in stable, but critical condition, the ambassador said. She has been moved to a hospital in Miami, Florida, for treatment. One of the president's children who was home during the attack has been taken to a secure place. 8World's reaction 9U.S. President Joe Biden, in a statement, condemned Moise's assassination and wished for the first lady's recovery. He added the U.S. stands "ready to assist as we continue to work for a safe and secure Haiti." 10In Washington, members of the Organization of American States held an emergency meeting Wednesday and condemned the killing. 11In New York, the United Nations Security Council president, French Ambassador Nicolas de Riviere, said the council was deeply shocked by the assassination. The council will meet privately Thursday morning to discuss events. The U.N. has about 1,200 staff in Haiti as part of its political mission there. 12Amnesty International is calling for an investigation into Moise's assassination, calling it a sign of the "serious human rights and political crisis that Haiti has been facing for years." 13Recent uptick in violence 14Haiti has been experiencing political instability and division, as well as a rise in gang violence. 15Last week in Port-au-Prince, gang leader Jimmy Cherisier took to the streets to protest Moise's government, calling for his resignation. 16"Jovenel (Moise) must go!" Cherisier told reporters during the protest. "A new group of people needs to lead this country, and we must sit together around a table, have a national dialogue so we can redefine this country." 17I'm Susan Shand. 18VOA's Sandra Lemaire reported this story. Susan Shand adapted it for Learning English with additional reporting from Reuters. Hai Do was the editor. 19_____________________________________________________________ 20Words in This Story 21assassination - n. the act of killing (someone, such as a famous or important person) usually for political reasons 22mercenary - n. a soldier who will fight for any group or country that hires him 23interim - n. a period of time between events 24stable - adj. in a good state or condition that is not easily changed or likely to change 25gang - n. a group of young people who do illegal things together and who often fight against other gangs 26dialogue - n. a discussion or series of discussions that two groups or countries have in order to end a disagreement 27We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section, and visit our Facebook page.