Haitian President denies nationality claim

President Michel Martelly displayed his Haitian passport on national television to try to quell rumours that he gave up his citizenship and is not eligible to hold office.

The Haitian constitution does not recognise dual nationality for senior government officials, and politicians have been disqualified from office in the past for having acquired the citizenship of other countries.

Critics of Mr Martelly, a former globe-trotting musician, charged that he had renounced his Haitian citizenship prior to taking office last May.

Several opposition senators went so far as to open an inquiry into the question of his passport.

Mr Martelly had already denied that he held the citizenship of another country but angered opponents by refusing to show his Haitian passport.

But yesterday, Mr Martelly showed reporters eight stamped passports that he has held over the years as US ambassador to Haiti Kenneth Merten and other diplomats looked on.

Mr Merten said Mr Martelly used to have a green card and now has visa, and there are no records of him being an American citizen.

Schools let out early and some businesses closed early before the late afternoon news conference amid reports of anti-government unrest.