Leslie Manigat, president of Haiti who was ousted in 1988 coup, dies at 83

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti – Officials in Haiti are reporting the death of former President Leslie Manigat, whose short term in office was ended by a military coup in 1988.

The deputy secretary of Manigat's political party says the 83-year-old former president died at his home early Friday. Evans Baubrun did not give a cause, but said Manigat had been ill for some time and the problems may have been complicated by a recent bout of the mosquito-borne chikungunya virus that has been spreading rapidly in Haiti.

Manigat won the January 1988 presidential election in a vote tainted by fraud. Within six months, he was ousted in a military coup.

He ran for president in 2006, but was defeated by Rene Preval. His wife Mirlande Manigat, was a candidate in the 2010 presidential election.