U.N. Troops in Haiti Crack Down

Hundreds of U.N. peacekeeping troops stormed a stronghold of ousted President Jean-Bertrand Aristide’s supporters Tuesday, seeking control of areas that had become hot spots for violence. At least six people were shot.

Shooting broke out between residents and United Nations troops who rolled into Cite Soleil before dawn, said Damian Onses-Cardona, a spokesman for the peacekeeping mission.

The slum, outside Port-au-Prince, has been a center of violence since September, when Aristide loyalists increased demonstrations to demand his return from exile in South Africa. More than 100 people have died in political violence since Sept. 30.

Three people with gunshot wounds were carried through a U.N. roadblock Tuesday. Residents told U.N. officials they had been shot by thugs.

Also, U.N. troops carried away a 16-year-old boy and a 26-year-old woman wounded by gunfire, relatives told Associated Press. The troops also transported Fransur Julien, 13, who was hit by a bullet that penetrated his house. His mother, Memen Oben, said she had no way of getting him to a hospital. She said she didn’t know where the bullet came from.

The show of force came a week after U.N. mission chief Juan Gabriel Valdes promised a crackdown on armed groups.

U.N. officials said they planned to patrol the area for at least two months until they could transfer operations to Haiti’s police. Many officers who had been loyal to Aristide fled their posts during the rebellion out of fear of reprisals. Nearly 20 police officers have been slain since Sept. 30.

The troops planned to dismantle roadblocks erected by residents and take control of two police stations in the slum.

Onses-Cardona said Tuesday’s operation involved hundreds of Brazilian, Jordanian and Sri Lankan troops, flanked by Chinese police and Chilean helicopters. He said most of the troops left after several hours, but similar pushes would occur daily.

“This operation is definitely not an easy thing or a quick thing,” he said.