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NEW YORK - Haitian hip hop star and humanitarian activist Wyclef Jean did not rule out running for president amid rumours Tuesday that he may stand in this year's elections in the quake-hit Caribbean nation.
"Wyclef's commitment to his homeland and its youth is boundless and he will remain its greatest supporter regardless of whether he is part of the government moving forward," his family said in a statement.
"At this time, Wyclef Jean has not announced his intent to run for Haitian president. If and when a decision is made, media will be alerted immediately."
The statement responded to a report in Canada's French-language Le Droit newspaper and rumours in Haiti that the former Fugees frontman is preparing paperwork for a bid in the upcoming election.
Current President Rene Preval is barred by the constitution from seeking a new term in the elections scheduled for November 28.
Preval's mandate expires in February 2011, but several parties have accused him of seeking to stay in office, adding political tensions to the economic and humanitarian troubles afflicting the impoverished country.
Jean, who lives in New York, is founder of the humanitarian Yele Haiti Foundation and has played a prominent role in securing aid after the January 12 earthquake leveled much of the capital city Port-au-Prince.
Widespread allegations of financial mismanagement were leveled at the organization during the crisis.
The quake killed 250,000 people and has left 1.5 million homeless, causing a huge humanitarian disaster in the poorest country in the Americas. - AFP/vm
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