PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti -- (AP) -- Two days after being sworn in as Haiti's new
 president, Jean-Bertrand Aristide on Friday designated economist Jean-Marie
 Cherestal as prime minister, said ruling party spokesman Jonas Petit.

 If confirmed, Cherestal will hold wide responsibilities over the formulation of policy
 and day-to-day administration. Among his first duties would be the selection of
 the Haitian Cabinet.

 Cherestal was a finance minister and planning minister in the past Aristide
 administration in the 1990s, and is a member of Aristide's Lavalas Family Party.

 In an interview with Radio Kiskeya, Cherestal said he would choose a Haitian
 Cabinet ``in the spirit of opening that President Aristide developed in his inaugural
 address.''

 Aristide was elected Haiti's president by 92 percent of voters in November
 elections boycotted by the main opposition parties. They alleged May legislative
 and local balloting was rigged to give 10 Senate seats to Lavalas party candidates