Ariel Henry resigns as prime minister of Haiti, paving the way for a new government to take power [Video]

Ariel Henry resigned Thursday as prime minister of Haiti, leaving the way clear for a new government to be formed in the Caribbean country, which has been wracked by gang violence. Henry presented his resignation in a letter signed in Los Angeles, dated April 24, and released Thursday by his office on the same day a council tasked with choosing a new prime minister and cabinet for Haiti was due to be sworn in.

Henry, who agreed to resign last month, has been under U.S. Secret Service protection, CBS News has confirmed.

The interim council was set to be installed more than a month after Caribbean leaders announced its creation, following an emergency meeting to tackle Haiti’s spiraling and parallel political and crime crises.

The nine-member council, of which seven have voting powers, is also expected to help set the agenda of a new cabinet. …