Wyclef Jean has admitted that he is aware of the risk of assassination during his campaign to become the Haitian president.
Jean will be spending time campaigning in the slums of Haiti to win over some more votes for his Presidency campaign.In an interview with Contact Music, he said "You have two choices. Either sit back thinking of the danger or do something to move your country forward.
"Assassination is always a possibility but I'd rather die trying to achieve something than die doing nothing... I'm telling you right now, brother, I'm going to fight for the rights of the Haitian people so they can get their justice.
"At times, to be honest, I think, 'What am I doing?' But I can hear the voice of youth drafting me. When I'm on the ground, they say to me, 'Clef, you're our last hope.' They feel close to me because I speak their language."
Jean's former band mate Pras Michel is not so supportive of the singer, announcing his backing of Jean's opponent Michel Martelly on Twitter.
"All Haitians around the world it's going to take all of us to start this reconstruction for Haiti! " he said. "Michel Martelly for president 2010! It's official the people are asking for it. I'm here in the belly of Haiti. I endorse Michel Martelly as the next president of Haiti!"
In reference to Sean Penn's labelling of Wyclef's running as "suspicious", Michel added that "Sean Penn understands what's really going and understands what Haiti really needs."
Michel Martelly is also a musician who has had numerous hits in his Haitian homeland under the name Sweet Mickey.
Haitian politics is in a dire state with a vacuum of power and a lack of funding for government services. In January this year an Earthquake left the capital Port-au-Prince devastated and the poverty stricken country is having a rough time rebuilding.
Have a listen to Sweet Mickey here:
and Wyclef here:
Follow the author Tim Cashmere on Twitter.
