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Haitians Swear in Preval Once More

Rene Preval has been sworn in as president of Haiti. He took the oath of office before some 300 legislators and foreign dignitaries, including Florida Governor Jeb Bush. Preval ruled Haiti from 1996 to 2001. He`s the only president in Haitian history to finish a five-year term. He faces big challenges, including a wrecked economy and a corrupt state bureaucracy.

Before the inauguration, inmates rioted at Haiti`s main prison about a half-mile away. Gunfire could be heard from inside the prison and about 100 inmates massed on the roof. Haitian police and UN peacekeeping troops surrounded the prison and restored order.

Haiti has been no stranger to strife in recent years, and the swearing in of a new president will hopefully mark that nation`s return to stability. As a island nation relatively close to the shores of the U.S., America has been heavily involved in attempting to bring order to that country`s shores.