Political unrest in Haiti claims new victim

Thursday, January 8, 2004

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AFP): A man was killed in a shootout with police Wednesday as a new anti-government demonstration in the Haitian capital sparked fresh tensions, witnesses said.

At least eight other people were wounded in stone throwing around the new demonstration against President Jean Bertrand Aristide.

The man, whose body was left in a car near a police station in Port-au-Prince, was believed to be an Aristide supporter.

Witnesses said several armed government supporters were seen in vehicles around the route of the opposition demonstration. The man was killed in an exchange of gunfire with police.

Supporters of the ruling Lavalas party tried to block the peaceful demonstration organised by the opposition in the Petion-Ville suburb of the city. The government activists threw stones and also fired guns in the air, witnesses said.

One man was hit in the head by a stone. Two others were injured on their arms. Four other people were injured by stones as the rally entered the city following talks between opposition leaders and police.

The opposition has accused Aristide of corruption and mismanagement and demanded that he stand down. Aristide, who still has two years of his five-year term to serve, has refused.

The mounting number of demonstrations in recent months overshadowed commemorations on January 1 for Haiti's 200th anniversary of independence. 

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