Sarkozy to announce aid and debt relief measures on Haiti visit

French President Nicolas Sarkozy is expected to announce a large aid package to Haiti that will include annulment of its debt when he visits the earthquake-ravaged country later Wednesday, the daily Le Figaro reported.

According to Sarkozy's office, he would offer a "very significant" amount of direct aid to Haiti and cancel the country's debt to Paris of 56 million euros (77 million dollars) on this historic visit, the first by a French president to the former French colony, DPA reported.

Sarkozy's visit comes less than five weeks after Haiti was struck by a powerful quake that killed more than 217,000 people and left some 1.2 million of its residents homeless.

During his visit, which is expected to last about five hours, Sarkozy is scheduled to meet with French medical and rescue personnel, hold discussions with non-governmental organizations and talk to civilians and soldiers from the United Nation's MINUSTAH mission.

He will also overfly the island in a helicopter with Haitian President Rene Preval and meet with members of his government.

Haiti was a French colony until 1804.