/ 8 March 2004

Looting rampage in Haiti capital

Hundreds of people went on a looting rampage on Monday at an industrial park near Port-au-Prince airport, attacking passing cars and threatening journalists with machetes, witnesses said.

The latest unrest came one day after at least six people, including a Spanish journalist, were killed when gunmen opened fire on an opposition rally in the Haitian capital.

There was no sign of multinational security forces, which are based at the airport, at the new incidents. Large numbers of districts around Port-au-Prince are still controlled by gangs who support Jean-Bertrand Aristide, the president who resigned and fled on February 29. — Sapa-AFP