Former President Bill Clinton visits Haiti

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti, March 10 (UPI) -- Former U.S. President Bill Clinton and U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon are in Haiti in an effort to address the impoverished nation's problems.

Joining the former president and U.N. secretary-general are investors, philanthropists and renowned Haitian musician Wyclef Jean, the BBC reported Tuesday.

The leaders want to draw international attention to the Caribbean nation's continued political instability and the after-effects of several hurricanes that killed some 800 people and left tens of thousands homeless last year. Some are still living in tent cities.

"2008 was a difficult year for Haiti, from the violent reactions to the increase in food prices to the devastation caused by the successive hurricanes," said Ban.

A U.N. peacekeeping mission led by Brazilian troops is approaching its fifth year in Haiti following deadly protests and riots that forced former President Jean-Bertrand Aristide to leave the country in February 2004.

A recent U.N. position paper suggests by creating more jobs in Haiti's garment industry, the oft-troubled nation could be stabilized.