PORT-AU-PRINCE -- With Haiti poised to enjoy the economic benefits of long-elusive stability, foreign diplomats are scrambling behind the scenes to keep it all from unraveling as several lawmakers demand the ouster of the country's prime minister.

A small but powerful group of senators is seeking the removal of Prime Minister Miche`le Pierre-Louis -- and possibly several of her ministers -- on charges that she has moved too slowly to solve Haiti's problems.

``The situation is critical,'' said Sen. Jean Hector Anacasis, who is among the six senators behind a recent summons for Pierre-Louis to appear before Haiti's Senate on Thursday. Under Haiti's constitution, the Senate can fire a sitting government.

``We are the ones on the ground who hear the people's cry, who hear them criticizing us, the government, saying nothing has been done. We have to replace the woman,'' Anacasis said. ``If they are accusing us of inviting a crisis, then we are inviting a crisis to avert another crisis.''

The internal political maneuvering comes just three weeks after former U.S. President and U.N. Special Envoy to Haiti Bill Clinton led a historic trade mission here, triggering optimism that this land of seemingly missed opportunities may finally be turning around.

Before a gathering of 600 investors -- 200 of them foreign -- Clinton championed Haiti's stability, promising that the risks were the lowest they have ever been in a crisis-prone Haiti. Now, both Haitian and foreign observers fear that political differences could trigger a crisis and send potential investors packing.

``They cannot afford to do this. It is not good for investments,'' said one diplomat who asked for anonymity because of the sensitivity of what is viewed as a domestic matter. ``It is all so frustrating.''

On Monday, diplomats spent the day shuffling between meetings with President René Préval, and discussions with Pierre-Louis. The matter even warranted a weekend phone call to Préval from U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. Clinton spoke of her concerns and reiterated U.S. support for Pierre-Louis, according to several sources privy to the conversation.

Préval, in turn, told Clinton that he was not behind the move to oust Pierre-Louis and has no control over the lawmakers. Critics disagree, pointing out that following the recent Senate elections, marred by fraud allegations and low turnout, Préval now controls two-thirds of the chamber, and that most of the six senators leading the charge are from his Lespwa (HOPE) political coalition.

POLITICALLY RISKY

Still, some are asking whether he's willing to spend the political capital to prevent the ouster of Pierre-Louis, a one-time friend and confidante who accepted her appointment as a storm-battered Haiti was gripped by political gridlock after the Senate fired then-Prime Minister Jacques-Edouard Alexis following food riots then failed to ratify two of Préval's choices.

Neither Préval nor Pierre-Louis responded to interview requests from The Miami Herald. In a taped message to the nation Monday night, Pierre-Louis defended her government's record and explained her reasons for taking the job.

Since her appointment a year ago, Pierre-Louis has appeared often before parliament but this is the first time she has been summoned, a move that usually signals a no-confidence vote.

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