Haitian president to meet Obama

The White House has announced that Haitian President Rene Preval is to visit the United States today.



This will be president Preval’s first official visit to the United States since the January 12 devastating earthquake that killed more than 300,000 people and left more than a million others homeless.



President Preval will hold discussions with US President Barack Obama.



Mr Obama is expected to ask legislators for more than US$1 billion in aid for the impoverished Caribbean country.



Mr Preval says he would also press President Obama to help address some of Haiti’s more immediate concerns.



Haiti needs at least US$93 million immediately to fix drainage pipes to prevent flooding.



The talks with Obama come weeks before a major donor conference on Haiti, at the United Nations, on March 31.