Haiti President Jovenel Moise was shot dead by unknown assailants in the early hours of Wednesday (local time).
Moise’s wife was also injured in the shooting, according to Interior Minister Claude Joseph, who is temporarily taking over the presidency in Haiti.
Condemning the “inhuman and barbaric act”, Joseph called for calm so that the police could do their job to locate the perpetrators.
In his statement, Joseph stressed that the perpetrators have not yet been identified, but added that “they were Hispanic”.
“All measures are being taken to guarantee the continuity of the state and to protect the nation”, Joseph added.
This is the Marina Tower in Ellinikon: The first “green” skyscraper in Greece (video-photos)
The assassination attempt on Moise followed a series of public protests in recent years over his rule, with many calling for him to step down.
As Haiti becomes politically divided and faces an escalating humanitarian crisis and food shortages, fears of widespread unrest are emerging.
Moise had been the country’s president since February 2017.
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