Haiti official Choiseul Henriquez dies

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti -- Former journalist and newly appointed Haitian Culture Minister Choiseul Henriquez has died while in Canada. He was 51.

The office of President Michel Martelly said in a statement Saturday night that Henriquez died of a brain hemorrhage Friday while in Ottawa. The office said he had suffered from diabetes and hypertension.

Henriquez was tapped to serve as minister of culture and communication in October, but was never sworn in because of his health problems, the privately owned station Radio Kiskeya said.

He was a press secretary during the first term of two-time President René Préval, Martelly's predecessor. Henriquez had also worked as a journalist. -- AP