Former Haitian dictator Jean-Claude Duvalier, also known as Baby Doc, has been charged with corruption, theft and misappropriation of funds amid accusations he pilfered up to $300 million from federal coffers during his 16-year presidency. His lawyer, however, says the statute of limitations has expired and he will fight to have the charges dismissed.

Bio: Baby Doc Duvalier

(cbc)

The former dictator's story — from becoming "president for life" in his late teens to his years of excess in power and eventual flight into exile.

Duvalier returned to Haiti on Jan. 16 after nearly a quarter century of exile in France.

In the wake of Duvalier's return, another ex-president says he's ready to come back to Haiti. Jean-Bertrand Aristide has served notice that he is ready to return "at any time " from a six-year exile in South Africa.

Haitians held a moment of silence on Jan. 12 to mark the sombre anniversary of the powerful earthquake that shattered their country one year earlier.

Prime Minister Jean-Max Bellerive said the death toll was more than 316,000, raising the figures from previous estimates. One million people were left homeless and about 800,000 of them still live in makeshift tent cities.

A runoff from November's controversial presidential election has been delayed until February. The original vote was marred by reports of fraud and blatant ballot-box stuffing.

The U.S. representative to the United Nations told the Security Council in January that Haiti must have credible elections to maintain international support.