Wyclef Jean excluded from Haiti's presidential race

PORT-AU-PRINCE — International hip-hop star Wyclef Jean has been excluded from Haiti's November presidential election following a long deliberation by the country's electoral council.The decision, which was announced late Friday by council spokesman Richard Dumel, was immediately accepted by the candidate, who reaffirmed his commitment to the rule of law."Though I disagree with the ruling, I respectfully accept the committee's final decision, and I urge my supporters to do the same," Jean said in a statement released after the ruling was announced.Jean said he had been inspired to run for president because he knew Haiti and believed it could become a great country with the right leadership."But, ultimately, we must respect the rule of law in order for our island to become the great nation we all aspire for it to be," he said.He assured his countrymen he would continue to work for Haiti's renewal."Though the board has determined that I am not a resident of Haiti, home is where the heart is -- and my heart has and will always be in Haiti," Jean said.Jean was among 34 presidential candidates who faced challenges to their bids. A total of 15 have been disqualified. Other prominent names eliminated from the electoral process included Raymond Joseph, Haiti's ambassador to the United States.The council did not formally explain its decision, there have been concerns Jean might not meet residency requirements. He also faces questions about US back taxes.The Grammy Award-winning musician lives in the New York area but spent his first nine years of life in Haiti. He traveled back to his homeland multiple times before the catastrophic January 12 earthquake, in a bid to help defuse violence in gang-infested slums and help the most disadvantaged Haitians.Haiti's November 28 election is still uncertain in the aftermath of a powerful January 12 earthquake that killed at least 250,000 people and left 1.5 million homeless.In an open letter made public before the ruling, Jean said that whatever his own political fate, the w

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