PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti – Hip-hop artist and presidential hopeful Wyclef Jean said Saturday that as leader he would work to change Haiti’s constitution to allow dual citizenship and give many Haitians living abroad the right to vote in their homeland.

The issue is central in Haiti, where hundreds of thousands have emigrated to flee poverty and the money they send to relatives back home is a vital source of income in the earthquake-ravaged Caribbean nation.

Currently, Haitians who emigrate must renounce their Haitian citizenship if they become citizens of another country, making them unable to vote or run for office in their homeland. Jean himself left Haiti for New York City when he was 9, but never sought U.S. citizenship.

The former Fugees frontman said that his presidency would be a “bridge” between the Haitians abroad and those living in the country.

“The future is dual citizenship,” he said, adding that many countries, including the neighboring Dominican Republic, allow citizens to hold two passports.

Haitians abroad “should have the right to vote in their country,” especially since they send billions in remittances to family members.

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“If they are the ones who keep this country alive, they should have some kind of say on what kind of government structure there is,” the 40-year-old singer said.

Jean arrived in Haiti after giving a concert in Belgium. He said it might be one of his last performances for five years if elected.

TV star says stones, feces thrown at her

CARTERVILLE, Ill. – A sheriff says reality TV actress Tila Tequila complained that audience members threw stones and feces during a music festival in southern Illinois.

Hardin County Sheriff Tom Seiner told WSIL-TV in Carterville that it happened early Saturday at the Gathering of the Juggalos, a festival centered on the band Insane Clown Posse and other groups from Psychopathic Records.

Seiner said that Tequila, whose real name is Tila Nguyen, complained that she was injured when audience members threw rocks at her. Seiner said Nguyen also complained that feces were thrown.

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Film director puts roots down

WASHINGTON – Earth Day Network is enlisting groups in 15 countries to plant 1 million trees this year with “Avatar” director James Cameron and Twentieth Century Fox.

The Washington-based group announced its plans Sunday. Cameron planted the first of 1 million trees in April in Brazil.

In the U.S., trees will be planted in New York, San Francisco and Los Angeles to improve air quality and urban animal habitats.

Tree plantings in such places as Mexico, Canada and Spain will be focused on reforestation of depleted areas.

Other efforts tie in with both development and environmental improvements. In Haiti, the U.S.-based Trees for the Future will work with farmers to plant about 500,000 fruit trees and other native species to provide economic benefits. That makes Haiti one of the largest sites.

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Zsa Zsa’s condition is serious

LOS ANGELES – Zsa Zsa Gabor’s publicist says the 93-year-old actress is in extremely serious condition after having two blood clots removed at a Los Angeles hospital.

Publicist John Blanchette said Sunday that he had spoken with Gabor’s husband, Prince Frederic Von Anhalt, who had told him of her condition. Blanchette described the situation as “very sad.”

Blanchette said Gabor was in surgery for several hours Saturday for the removal of the clots, one of them very close to her heart.

Gabor was hospitalized Friday afternoon because she was bleeding and in a lot of pain.

She broke her hip July 17, had hip replacement surgery and had just returned home from the hospital Wednesday.


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