17064: (Chamberlain) Haiti-Protest (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: Greg Chamberlain <GregChamberlain@compuserve.com>

   By MICHAEL NORTON

   PORT-AU-PRINCE, Oct 27 (AP) -- Attacking by land, sea, and air, police
raided a slain gang leader's seaside slum Monday and arrested a dozen of
his cronies in retaliation for a police station attack the day before. At
least one person was killed.
   Residents fled as police stormed the Raboteau slum, using boats, a
helicopter and dozens of officers on the ground. A female bystander was
shot and killed, at least two people were wounded and 12 people were
arrested in the neighborhood outside west-coast Gonaives, the private Radio
Metropole reported.
   The dead woman was identified as Jocelyne Michel, 30, the station said
without providing further details.
   Metayer's followers have been staging violent anti-government protests
since his bullet-riddled body was found Sept. 22.
   On Sunday, nine heavily armed Metayer followers attacked the Gonaives
police station, wounding two police officers. A 17-year-old girl, Josima
Pierre, was shot in the head after leaving a church.
   "The police will not tolerate terrorist acts," government spokesman
Mario Dupuy said.
   At least 11 people have been shot and killed and 35 others wounded
during more than a month of demonstrations that have paralyzed this town 68
miles northwest of the capital.
   Metayer's followers also plundered the private residence of central
government representative Ketlen Telemaque.
   Metayer once ruled the streets for President Jean-Bertrand Aristide, but
his followers have turned against the president, saying his government
masterminded Metayer's assassination to prevent him from revealing
compromising information.
   The government has denied the allegation, saying Metayer's followers are
being manipulated by the opposition as a pretext not to participate in
elections Aristide pledged to hold this year.