Rene Preval (file)

Haitian President Rene Preval has chosen an official with the Inter-American Development Bank to be the country's new prime minister.

Reports from Port-au-Prince say President Preval named Ericq Pierre to the post Sunday. Mr. Pierre's appointment must be ratified by legislators.

Earlier this month, lawmakers dismissed Prime Minister Jacques Edouard Alexis to quell violent protests over rising food prices in the impoverished Caribbean nation. The legislators said Mr. Alexis had not done enough to improve the economy or keep soaring food prices under control.

At least six people, including a United Nations peacekeeper, were killed as violence erupted in the capital as well as the city of Les Cayes over the cost of food.

Haiti is the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere and has a history of political turmoil.

Some information for this report was provided by AFP and Reuters.