Wyclef Jean's Haiti presidential bid rejected

The Grammy-winning hip-hop star, known for such hit singles as 'We Trying to Stay Alive' and 'Gone Till November,' had filed papers to run for president of Haiti at the electoral council office in the capital, Port-au-Prince.

Jean, who was born in Haiti but raised in Brooklyn, N.Y., had to prove to election officials that he meets the constitutional requirements to be president, including five consecutive years of residency in the country.

Jean can't run for president
Late on Friday, Aug. 20, 2010, Haiti's Electoral Council rejected Jean’s candidacy in this Caribbean nation, which was ravaged by a Jan. 12 earthquake that killed more than 220,000 people, destroyed 60 percent of government infrastructure and left more than 180,000 homes uninhabitable.

The council released the list of 19 candidates who made the final cut to be eligible to compete on the country's upcoming presidential ballot.

Unfortunately, the 40-yea-old singer-songwriter was not on the list of approved candidates, instead was among 15 prospective candidates rejected.

Jean shocked with the news
Soon after the public pronouncement that Jean is ineligible to run for the Nov. 28 presidential election, the entertainer told CNN he was surprised by the news.

"This has come to our party and to our group as a total shock," he told the publication in an interview.

Disagreed, but accepted the ruling
Although Jean is not agreed with the council’s ruling, he still accepted it gracefully. The three time Grammy Award-winner even urged his supporters to remain calm and respond "peacefully and responsibly to the disappointment," according to the Associated Press.

Unfortunately, the 40-yea-old singer-songwriter was not on the list of approved candidates, instead was among 15 prospective candidates rejected.

"Though I disagree with the ruling, I respectfully accept the committee's final decision, and I urge my supporters to do the same," the former Fugees frontman told the AP.

"Ultimately, we must respect the rule of law in order for our island to become the great nation we all aspire for it to be," he said.

Vows to continue working for Haiti's renewal
While the electoral commission did not say why it had disqualified Jean, the musician’s told CNN that the council had ruled he was not a resident of the country.

"I want to assure my countrymen that I will continue to work for Haiti's renewal; though the board has determined that I am not a resident of Haiti, home is where the heart is -- and my heart has and will always be in Haiti," Jean's statement said. "This ruling just tells me that I can't officially seek the office of president."

Jean already lost support
Jean was born on the outskirts of Port-au-Prince, which is still largely in ruins from the earthquake, but moved to the United States when he was very young.

Earlier this month Jean’s former bandmate Pra had announced he is not supporting the rapper, instead endorsing his opponent Michel Martell as the next president of Haiti.

Also Oscar-winning actor Sean Penn had slammed Jean's bid just hours after he declared his intention to run for the president of Haiti.