Rene Preval

The leader of Haiti's parliament says President Rene Preval has named a new candidate for the post of prime minister, after his two previous choices were rejected.

The nominee is Michele Pierre-Louis, an economist and educator who has been head of a foundation that provides libraries, youth education programs and women's networks in Haiti.  FOKAL - the Foundation for Knowledge and Liberty - is funded by George Soros' Open Society Institute.

Earlier this month, Haiti's Chamber of Deputies rejected the candidacy of Mr. Preval's longtime ally, Robert Manuel, by a wide margin.  They cited residency requirements in their decision.

Last month the legislators in the chamber voted against Ericq Pierre, who says he was turned down because he refused to take bribes in exchange for ministerial appointments. 

Earlier this year, Prime Minister Jacques Edouard Alexis was fired to quell violent protests over rising food prices in Haiti, which is the Western Hemisphere's poorest nation.

Some information for this report was provided by AFP and Reuters.