LatinNews Daily Report - 01 March 2012

Haiti | Protests. On 29 February several thousand supporters of former leader Jean Bertrand Aristide (1991; 1994-1996; 2001-2004) took to the streets in the capital, Port-au-Prince, on the eighth anniversary of his ouster to protest against President Michel Martelly. The show of anti-Martelly sentiment – the largest since he took office in May last year – comes at time of heightened instability following the resignation of Prime Minister Garry Conille last week. The size of the crowd also suggests continued levels of support for Aristide, who, since his return to the country last year, has kept a low profile. It also follows as yet unconfirmed reports that the government is planning to investigate the former leader for alleged drug trafficking, corruption, bribery and malfeasance.