Marc Louis Bazin, twice defeated for Haiti presidency, dies

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti - Marc Louis Bazin, who lost Haiti's first free presidential election in 1990 and went on to become prime minister, died . He was 78.

Patrick Michel, the leader of Bazin's political party, said the former premier died of cancer.

Bazin came up short for the presidency twice, most famously a 1990 loss to populist priest Jean-Bertrand Aristide. A coup followed, and the generals who ousted Aristide made Bazin prime minister. He held the position for a year before resigning.

After Aristide was again ousted in 2004, Bazin ran against dozens of candidates, losing to current President Rene Preval.

In recent months Bazin joined other former prime ministers from across the political spectrum to advise current leaders on rebuilding the earthquake-ravaged country. - AP