Haiti leader leaves for Florida for checkup

Haiti's government says that President Michel Martelly has left the country for a "complete medical checkup" in Florida.

The doctor's visit comes almost a year after the 51-year-old leader traveled to Miami for a two-week stay in Miami to recover from what officials said was a blood clot in his lung.

His office at the time said doctors diagnosed him with a blood clot that stemmed from an operation on his right shoulder. The surgery was apparently needed because of pain in his arm from years of performing as a musician. He was a popular entertainer before turning to politics.

The National Palace released the statement Tuesday. Officials also said he would soon travel to Chile to attend a summit for heads of state in Latin America and Caribbean.