Wyclef Jean presidential bid disqualified

Wyclef Jean will not be allowed to run for the presidency of Haiti after his well-publicised campaign was disqualified.

Speculation that the Fugees star had failed to make a shortlist of approved candidates for election was confirmed yesterday, when Haiti's electoral commission ruled that he was not an appropriate candidate for the title.

Jean told The AP that although he was disappointed with the decision, he hoped that his supporters would follow his example and accept the news "peacefully and responsibly".

"Though I disagree with the ruling, I respectfully accept the committee's final decision, and I urge my supporters to do the same," he stated.

Although the commission did not elaborate on the reasoning behind Jean's exclusion, it is believed that the 40-year-old star failed to meet several of the legal requirements to run for office, including not having lived in the country for the last five years.

Despite this, Jean previously asserted that he would be allowed to launch a campaign for the presidency after meeting with Haiti's current leader on Thursday.