Businessman named as PM

Port-au-Prince - The Haitian President, Jean-Bertrand Aristide, nominated Smarck Michel, a wealthy businessman, to be his prime minister. The nomination will have to be confirmed by parliament.

Mr Michel has long been close to Father Aristide and served as his minister of commerce in 1991. The owner of a number of businesses, Mr Michel helped to finance the 1990 presidential campaign that brought President Aristide to power. Reuter