Haiti’s interim prime minister declares he’s in charge after president assassinated, state of siege declared

Haitian President Jovenel Moise was killed in an attack at his home early Wednesday, the country's interim premier said.

Haitian President Jovenel Moise was killed in an attack at his home before dawn on Wednesday, the country's interim prime minister said, declaring himself in control of the troubled Caribbean country hours later. A group of unidentified individuals raided Moise's private residence in Haiti's capital, Port-au-Prince, at about 1 a.m. local time, according to a statement from Haitian interim Prime Minister Claude Joseph. They gunned down the 53-year-old head of state and wounded his wife, Martine Moise, who was transferred to the U.S. for treatment. Joseph, who condemned what he called a "hateful, inhumane and barbaric act," declared a "state of siege" and said that the country's national police force and military had the situation under control, with himself "in charge" now. Late Wednesday, Haiti's communications secretary said police have arrested the "presumed assassins," but Frantz Exantus did not provide further details about Wednesday's slaying or say how many suspects had been arrested, the Associated Press reported.