Qatar has strongly condemned the assassination of Haitian President Jovenel Moise, and stressed the need to prosecute those involved in the horrific incident and bring them to justice. In a statement on Wednesday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs reiterated Qatar's firm position on rejecting violence, terrorism and criminal acts, regardless of the motives and reasons. The statement affirmed Qatar's keenness to establish security and stability in Haiti. It expressed Qatar's condolences to the family of the late president and to the government and people of Haiti.
President Moise was assassinated and his wife wounded early yesterday in a gun attack at their private residence, tipping the impoverished and crisis-hit Caribbean nation into a renewed state of political uncertainty.
Interim Prime Minister Claude Joseph said he was now in charge of the country, urging people to remain calm. As international outrage and shock spread over the killing, the airport was closed in the capital Port-au-Prince.
The assassins of Haiti's president were "professional" mercenaries who disguised themselves as US Drug Enforcement Administration agents and may have already left the country, Haiti's ambassador to the United States Bocchit Edmond said.
"It was a well-orchestrated attack and those were professionals," Edmond told reporters.
"We have a video and we believe that those are mercenaries."
