Amid deadly protests, Haitian president says he won't resign

Thousands of Haitians have spent the last week demonstrating against President Jovanel Moise, demanding his resignation, but in a television address on Thursday, Moise said he "will not leave the country in the hands of armed gangs and drug traffickers."

The protests have left at least seven people dead. Haiti is the poorest country in the Caribbean, and Moise was elected two years ago after promising to do something about hunger and unemployment. Inflation is up 15 percent since 2017, and Moise's critics say he's corrupt; last month, a report was released alleging government officials mismanaged and possibly embezzled development funds from Venezuela, and it's suggested Moise was involved, BBC News reports.

Protesters have been setting tires on fire and throwing rocks at police officers, and tourists have been told not to leave their hotels. The United States has ordered all non-emergency U.S. personnel and their families out of the country, and the Canadian embassy has been temporarily shuttered.

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