Wyclef, no appeal on Haitian presidential candidacy

Acclaimed rapper and aspiring Haitian President Wyclef Jean will not be allowed to stand as a candidate in the Haitian elections, due to take place in November.

The decision is final and was made by the Haitian Electoral Council.

Wyclef maintains: “Friends ... warned me ...much trickery would be used to block me." he said. "This has proved true..."

A spokesperson for the Electoral Council’s legal team commented on the decision stating:

When it comes to electoral matters, the electoral council is the supreme court, meaning there is nowhere else to go." Samuel Pierre said. "There is absolutely no possibility for Wyclef Jean to be added to the list of candidates approved to run in the next presidential elections. So it's over.

While the decision is final, Wyclef still has much support from many Haitians despite strong opposition. When Haiti was struck by the earthquake that devastated the island - destroying the infrastructure of the country; Jean, 40, received praise for his work on the ground particularly in mobilising young people in clearing many of the streets of debris.

His charity later came under fire from critics amid accusations of financial irregularities.  He also received strong criticism from the actor Sean Penn who has been part of the relief effort since the disaster struck.

Jean has been one of the most outspoken critics of the slow pace at which foreign aid is reaching the masses.

By Richard Sudan