Haiti chooses new prime minister

A US-backed advisory council picked Gerard Latortue, a former UN official and business consultant as Haiti’s new prime minister, a step toward forming a transitional government and organising elections in the troubled nation.

The decision came as US Marines announced they would begin disarming rebels and armed loyalists of former President Jean-Bertrand Aristide later this week, a potentially volatile move after weeks of bloodshed and anger over Aristide’s departure.