Haiti vote attracts 30 candidates

There are reports that ex-ruler Jean-Claude Duvalier will run

At least 30 candidates have registered for Haiti's elections, the first since President Jean-Bertrand Aristide was ousted, officials say.

Former Presidents Rene Preval and Leslie Manigat, as well as ex-PM Marc Bazin, are among the candidates.

There has so far been no confirmation of reports that former Haitian leader Jean-Claude Duvalier, known as Baby Doc, is one of the contenders.

Preparations for the elections have been overshadowed by violence.

Mr Aristide's Lavalas Family party - which has widespread support, particularly in the capital's poorer neighbourhoods - has threatened to boycott the elections.

Violence is threatening to destabilise the electoral process

Earlier this week, it was barred from registering its chosen candidate, Gerard Jean-Juste, a Roman Catholic priest who has been in jail since July.

Mr Jean-Juste has been accused of involvement in the killing of a prominent Haitian journalist. He denies the allegations and has yet to be charged.

Some elements of the Lavalas Family party have joined forces with former Prime Minister Bazin, who leads the Movement for Democracy in Haiti.

Also in the running for the presidency is a wealthy businessman, Dumarsais Simeus, who has lived in the US for nearly 40 years.