Haiti’s president alleges coup conspiracy; 20 arrested

“There was an attempt on my life,” he mentioned.

Moïse mentioned the alleged plot started on Nov. 20 however didn’t present additional particulars or any proof besides to say among the many folks arrested is a decide and an inspector basic with the police. Moïse then mentioned different high-ranking officers would offer extra data however all of them walked away and didn’t converse additional to reporters.

The identities of these arrested weren’t launched, and opposition leaders couldn’t be instantly reached for remark.

The announcement comes on the day that opposition leaders declare Moïse ought to resign, saying that his time period ends on Sunday. Moïse has repeatedly acknowledged that his five-year time period ends in February 2022. Former President Michel Martelly’s time period resulted in 2016, however a chaotic election pressured the appointment of a provisional president for one yr till Moïse was sworn in in 2017.

The opposition has organized latest protests demanding that Moïse step down, and usually congested streets in Haiti’s capital and elsewhere remained empty on Sunday as a handful of demonstrators burned tires.

Meanwhile, Moïse seems to have the help of the administration of U.S. President Joe Biden. Ned Price, a U.S. State Department spokesman, mentioned Friday that the U.S. has urged Haiti to arrange free and truthful elections in order that Parliament can resume operations, including {that a} new elected president ought to succeed Moïse when his phrases ends in February 2022.

Moïse is presently ruling by decree after dissolving a majority of Parliament in January 2020 after no legislative elections have been held. He is planning an upcoming constitutional referendum in April that critics say might award him extra energy, whereas basic elections are scheduled for later this yr.

Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This materials will not be printed, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed with out permission.