On Wednesday, Haitian President Rene Preval appealed for international help in the wake of "catastrophic" flooding, Nazaire said.

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After demonstrations and allegations of massive fraud, the Haitian government, last week, named Rene Preval as the new president.

NPR: Speculation Builds on how Haiti's Preval Will Rule

President Rene Preval is safe, Joseph said, but there was no estimate of the dead and wounded Tuesday evening.

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He arrived on the day Haiti was supposed to hold a second round of elections to choose a successor to outgoing President Rene Preval.

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Pierre-Louis knew Rene Preval long before he entered politics.

NPR: Speculation Builds on how Haiti's Preval Will Rule

In 1994 he was reinstated with the support of US troops, but was forbidden by the constitution from standing for a second consecutive term in 1995, leaving his then-ally, Rene Preval, to stand successfully in his stead.

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Help came "very fast, " Rene Preval said.

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Under Rene Preval, who was elected for a second term in 2006, there has been a small but significant improvement in conditions in Haiti: jobs have been created, the slums have become less violent, and there have been some timid signs of a growth in tourism.

BBC: Haiti's history of misery

Rene Preval in 1996.

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