ARTICLE - MARTELLY TO MEET CLINTON IN USA

HAITI PRESIDENT-ELECT TO MEET CLINTON ON US VISIT
(AFP) -

WASHINGTON — Haiti's president-elect Michel Martelly will meet Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Wednesday, setting the tone of a key relationship for America's poorest neighbor.

The former entertainer, who assumes office on May 14 providing his poll victory is confirmed, will also meet the heads of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund, according to Martelly's office.

Martelly faces the daunting task of rebuilding the Western Hemisphere's poorest country, which is struggling to recover from a January 2010 earthquake that killed more than 225,000 people and left the capital in ruins.

More than 750,000 people are still homeless and an ongoing cholera epidemic has killed more than 4,750 people since mid-October.

The 50-year-old former carnival singer, popularly known as "Sweet Micky," defeated former first lady Mirlande Manigat in a March 20 run-off after a months-long electoral process marked by violence and allegations of fraud.

The meeting with Clinton will reaffirm the "United States' continued commitment to Haiti's reconstruction and economic development," said acting US State Department deputy spokesman Mark Toner in a statement.

Martelly has said that in his first six months as president he will focus on moving people out of tents, the cholera epidemic and boosting the country's agricultural production.

Preliminary presidential results published April 4 showed Martelly received 67.57 percent of the March 20 run-off vote against former first lady Mirlande Manigat, who finished with 31.74 percent. Official results are set to be released Wednesday, while Martelly is in the United States.