[JURIST] The Haitian Electoral Council ordered Friday that the names of two Haitian-born US citizens, Dumarsais Simeus [official website] and Samir Mourra, be taken off the ballot of authorized candidates for the country's upcoming presidential election [website]. The decision is in direct violation of a Haitian Supreme Court ruling [JURIST report] that said that Simeus, a Texas-based businessman, should be allowed to run because the Electoral Council could not show that Simeus had given up his Haitian citizenship. The election marks the first since former President Jean-Bertrand Aristide [BBC profile] was ousted from power in February 2004 [JURIST report]. The election was originally scheduled for November 20 but will probably be delayed until December. Reuters has more.
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