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Haiti
Thousands march for Aristide
Associated Press
Published March 5, 2005
PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti - More than 2,000 supporters of ousted President Jean-Bertrand Aristide marched through a slum in Haiti's capital Friday, accusing police of killing two men during a recent protest.
Watched by dozens of U.N. troops, the demonstration snaked peacefully through the streets of Bel Air, five days after witnesses accused police of firing at protesters marking the one-year anniversary of Aristide's ouster.
Two of the protesters lay dead after the shooting, though police denied involvement.
Chants of "too much blood!" rose from the crowd as protesters called Friday for an end to the U.S.-backed interim government.
"We are living a nightmare under this de facto government. All they do is kill Aristide supporters," said Bolivard Yvena, a 24-year-old Bel Air resident.
Haitian police agreed to stay away to avoid more clashes, said Dan Moskaluk, a spokesman for the U.N. Civilian Police force. Moskaluk said U.N. officials have not determined if police fired on protesters Monday, but he acknowledged there was concern over their use of force.
The 7,400-member U.N. peacekeeping force and the interim government are struggling to contain violence ahead of promised general elections this fall.
Several parts of the country remain under the control of former soldiers and gangsters who led the three-week rebellion that ousted Aristide on Feb. 29, 2004.
[Last modified March 5, 2005, 00:43:02]
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