Police raid in Haiti leaves five dead

Saturday, October 4, 2003

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti: Five men are dead in the Haitian city of Gonaives after police trying to raid a shantytown touched off a gunfight, radio stations today reported. The city has been paralyzed by protesters angry over the slaying of gang leader, Mr. Amiot Metayer. 

Officers went on the offensive on Thursday, a day after protesters torched the police station, AP said. With a helicopter hovering overhead, police tried without success to penetrate the Raboteau shantytown, exchanging gunfire with protesters for two hours, independent Radio Etincelles reported. 

Five people were shot and killed in nearby slums, including two motorbike taxi drivers trying to flee the firefight, two radio stations reported. At least 10 people were wounded, raising the toll to six killed and 28 wounded since Amiot Metayer's bullet-riddled body was found on 22nd September. 

Members and supporters of Metayer's "Cannibal Army" gang claim the government ordered his assassination to stop him from spreading damaging information about Aristide. 

The government denies involvement in Metayer's slaying, saying only its political opponents gain from protests it links to "the armed wing of the opposition." 

Opposition groups distanced themselves from the violence and denied involvement in the Gonaives uprising, but they did not rule out future cooperation. 

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