Haitian president Moise assassinated at home

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti－Haitian President Jovenel Moise was shot dead by unidentified attackers at his private residence overnight in an "inhuman and barbaric act" and the attack also left Moise's wife injured, said interim Prime Minister Claude Joseph in a statement on Wednesday.

He said police officers and army forces had the security situation under control, but gunshots could be heard throughout the capital after the attack, which occurred amid a rising wave of politically linked violence in the impoverished Caribbean nation.

With Haiti politically divided, and facing a growing humanitarian crisis and shortages of food, there are fears of widespread disorder. The Dominican Republic said it was closing the border it shares with Haiti on the island of Hispaniola.

"The president was assassinated at his home by foreigners who spoke English and Spanish," Joseph said in an interview with Radio Caraibes.

Joseph said he is now in charge of the country.

Port-au-Prince has been suffering an increase in violence as gangs battle one another and police for control of the streets.

The bloodshed is driven by worsening poverty and political instability. Moise faced protests after taking office as president in 2017, with the opposition accusing him this year of seeking to install a dictatorship by overstaying his mandate and becoming more authoritarian－charges which he denied.

"All measures are being taken to guarantee the continuity of the state and to protect the nation," Joseph said.

Moise had ruled Haiti, the poorest country in the Americas, by decree, after legislative elections due in 2018 were delayed. Disputes have been around on when his term ends.

Postponed referendum

Haiti's constitutional referendum, which should have taken place in April but was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, will be held on Sept 26, the national electoral commission announced on June 28.

In addition to the political crisis, kidnappings for ransom have surged in recent months, further reflecting the growing influence of armed gangs in the nation.

Haiti also faces chronic poverty and recurrent natural disasters.

The United States is assessing the "tragic attack" on Moise and President Joe Biden will be briefed on the assassination, the White House said on Wednesday.

"We're still gathering information," White House press secretary Jen Psaki said on MSNBC. "We're still assessing right now."

The US embassy in Haiti said in a statement that it would be closed on Wednesday due to the "ongoing security situation".

Dominican Republic President Luis Abinader held an emergency meeting early on Wednesday about the situation but had yet to issue a statement.