PORT-AU-PRINCE, April 27 (Reuters) - Haitian President Rene
Preval named a new prime minister on Sunday after lawmakers
fired his predecessor to quell violent protests over rising
food prices in the impoverished nation, a senator said.
 

Preval named Ericq Pierre, a senior advisor with the
Inter-American Development Bank, to replace former Prime
Minister Jacques Edouard Alexis, said the president of the
Caribbean country's Senate, Sen. Kelly Bastien.
 

Alexis was dismissed on April 12 in a vote by opposition
senators who blamed him for failing to ramp up food production
and reduce the cost of living. At least six people died in
riots over food prices in the poorest nation in the Americas.
 

Pierre's appointment must be ratified by Haiti's
parliament.
 

Public unrest has struck in several countries as bad
weather, competition with biofuels, market speculation and
rising demand in Asia send the price of many staples soaring.