US Urges Citizens to Take Care, Not Avoid Haiti

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti August 9, 2011 (AP)
The U.S. State Department no longer urges American citizens to avoid all travel to Haiti.

A new travel warning issued Monday softens language from one released in January, when the country was suffering election-related violence. It now says Americans should "carefully consider" before traveling to the island.

It cites crime, a renewed cholera outbreak and an inadequate infrastructure.

The revised advisory comes as Haiti's new president struggles to install a government. President Michel Martelly has seen his two picks for prime minister rejected by lawmakers and he hasn't yet picked a third nominee.

Haitian officials have long said the U.S. travel warnings are exaggerated and unfairly discourage tourism and investment.