EmailJake Tapper and Kirit Radia report:
President Obama will speak with Haitian President René Préval today, several days after a major earthquake flattened much of the country’s capital including Preval’s own presidential palace. The call is scheduled for 10:00 am via satellite phone.
President Obama has been trying to reach Preval unsuccessfully for several days. One source tells ABC News that for that reason an official from the US Embassy is currently with Preval to make sure President Obama gets through this time.
After Tuesday evening’s 7.0 earthquake Haiti’s cell and landline phone connections have been largely cut off throughout the country, already the poorest in the western hemisphere.
Officials from the US embassy in Port au Price have had sporadic contact with Preval since the Tuesday quake.
UPDATE: U.S. State Department spokesman P.J. Crowley tells ABC news that the U.S. Ambassador to Haiti plans to meet with Préval shortly, and hopes to arrange a call with President Obama.