U.N. Peacekeeper Slain in Haitian Slum

A U.N. peacekeeper from the Philippines was shot and killed Thursday on the fringes of a Haitian slum where troops have clashed with politically aligned street gangs, as the U.N. Security Council discussed expanding the mission in the impoverished Caribbean nation.

United Nations troops were preparing to set up an observation post at the entrance to Cite Soleil, a Port-au-Prince slum dominated by supporters of ousted President Jean-Bertrand Aristide, when a bullet pierced the soldier’s helmet, U.N. officials said. He was the third peacekeeper to be slain during the year-old mission.

Philippine troops said the 22-year army veteran was driving a white U.N. sport utility vehicle when he was shot.

Lt. Gen. Augusto Heleno Ribeiro, the force’s Brazilian commander, said troops from Ecuador and Jordan returned fire.

U.N. troops were barricading side streets and establishing a checkpoint at the slum’s main entrance in an effort to control gangs believed to be led by Emmanuel “Dread” Wilme, whose fighters wield weapons ranging from sawed-off shotguns to AK-47 rifles.

At the time, representatives of the Security Council, who were on a fact-finding trip, were meeting at the Hotel Montana overlooking the city The purpose of the visit is to assess conditions before a May vote on extending the peacekeeping mission beyond June, when its mandate expires.