AceShowbiz - Manic Street Preachers bassist Nicky Wire has praised Wyclef Jean for his presidential bid in Haiti - insisting the hip-hop star showed "an unbelievable amount of bravery" for venturing into politics. Jean hit the headlines in August when he announced he planned to stand in his native country's upcoming leadership race to help rebuild communities following a devastating earthquake earlier this year.

He was later banned from the elections after it was ruled he didn't meet residency requirements - but Wire has come out in support of the star's political ambitions. The rocker tells British magazine NME, "I thought it showed an unbelievable amount of bravery for him to even try that."

"I can't think of a harder job in the f**king world. I can't see him doing that - with all the baggage that comes with it - for a publicity stunt. Even I'm not that cynical. I wouldn't have the balls to do that in f**king Wales, let alone a country like Haiti, which has so much potential but is also in such deep, deep trouble."

"People can say what they like about it, but I think he did it from the heart. It's not like throwing a charity record together; it's a truly impossible job."