Haiti swears in new government

PORT-AU-PRINCE: Haiti’s new government was sworn in as gangs loyal to exiled ex-president Jean Bertrand Aristide handed in their weapons, raising hopes the Caribbean nation was recovering from its deep-seated political crisis. Prime Minister Gerard Latortue said the government he had formed was non-partisan and would be judged on its achievements. “The time has come to turn our backs on dictatorship,” said Latortue, 69, said at Wednesday’s ceremony at the national palace in which iterim President Boniface Alexandre swore in the 13 new ministers. Latortue told AFP at the ceremony that Dominique de Villepin would visit Haiti this month, the first visit by a French foreign minister since Haiti gained independence from France 200 years ago. Latortue completed forming his government on Tuesday evening, following several days of discussions with the council as well as with members of the opposition and of ex-president Jean Bertrand Aristide’s Lavalas party. He said that within days the country would have a provisional electoral body charged with organizing free elections. Most of the ministers are technocrats. —AFP

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