Transitional council in Haiti embraces new changes following turmoil as gang violence grips country

By DÁNICA COTO
Associated Press

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) — A transitional council tasked with choosing new leaders for Haiti is changing the way it operates in a move that is surprising many as gang violence consumes the country. Two members who were not authorized to publicly share the changes because they had not yet been announced told The Associated Press that instead of a single council president, four politicians will take turns leading the council every five months. The changes follow inner turmoil that threatened to derail the council after it was sworn in April 25. The changes come as Haiti awaits a U.N.-backed police force to help fight gangs whose attacks have closed the main airport and paralyzed the largest seaport as food and other crucial goods dwindle.