Transitional council in Haiti embraces new changes following turmoil as gang violence grips country

PORT-AU-PRINCE (AP) — A transitional council tasked with choosing new leaders for Haiti is changing the way it operates in a move that surprised many as gang violence consumes the country.

Instead of having a single council president, four veteran politicians will take turns leading the council every five months, according to two members who were not authorized to publicly share the changes because they had not yet been announced.

The members told The Associated Press late Wednesday that the nine-member council also will now consider five members a majority, instead of four. Seven of the council’s members have voting powers.