In Haiti, rivals claw for power as crisis escalates after assassination Widlore Merancourt, Anthony Faiola PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti —The race to fill Haiti's political vacuum after the brazen assassination of President Jovenel Moïse shifted into high-stakes power plays on Saturday, with rivals battling over the nation's leadership amid competing charges of "coups" in progress. The struggle for control of the country came as acting prime minister Claude Joseph called for help from U.S. and U.N. troops. Meanwhile, what remains of the nation’s nonfunctioning Senate sought to name one of their own as the new president against the wishes of the interim government.