HAITI: UN peacekeeping troops storm Haiti's Cite Soleil slum, killing at least one man and leaving several injured

Record ID: 1526045

  • Title: HAITI: UN peacekeeping troops storm Haiti's Cite Soleil slum, killing at least one man and leaving several injured
  • Date: 10th February 2007
  • Summary: (SOUNDBITE) UNIDENTIFIED UN SOLDIER SAYING: "The security and the welfare of the Cite Soleil people-- that''s the reason that we are here."
  • Embargoed: 25th February 2007 11:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Haiti
  • Country: Haiti
  • Topics: War / Fighting,International Relations
  • Reuters ID: LVA905MBYQ7GZ9LE0OCPDDLZ98I1
  • Aspect Ratio: 4:3
  • Story Text: Hundreds of United Nations (U.N.) soldiers stormed a slum neighbourhood in Haiti's capital on Friday (February 9) to try to wrest control from a criminal gang, prompting a gunfight that killed one person and wounded several others, including two peacekeepers.
    More than 700 U.N. troops from seven nations moved into the Cite Soleil slum in Port-au-Prince around 3 a.m. to arrest a feared gang leader known as Evans and take over territory occupied by his armed gang.
    Resident Serge LaPlante said he believed there were more residents killed.
    "In the bathroom, the MINUSTAH killed people, two children in the bed, mother and father dying," he said.
    A U.N. spokesman said gang members shot at the troops as they entered the slum.
    Some reports state that two peacekeepers-- one from Jordan and one from Bolivia-- were slightly injured during the operation, but other reports say the Bolivian soldier was hurt in a road accident. The dead person was not identified.
    Magno said the peacekeepers have taken over key positions held by the gangs.
    U.N. peacekeepers deployed in Haiti since June 2004 and local police have been stepping up efforts to quell criminal gangs blamed for much of Haiti's violence and kidnappings.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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