24915: Hermantin(News) Political party leader abducted (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: leonie hermantin <lhermantin@hotmail.com>

HAITI

POLITICAL PARTY LEADER ABDUCTED

PORT-AU-PRINCE -- A political party leader was kidnapped Thursday, his wife
said, amid an increasing rash of kidnappings that are terrifying Haitians as
the troubled country gears up for general elections.

Unidentified gunmen abducted Jean Henold Buteau, a physician who leads the
center-left Movement for National Reconstruction, as he was getting out of
his vehicle in front of his private clinic in the capital, Port-au-Prince,
said his wife, Evelyn Buteau.

The kidnappers have demanded A $30,000 ransom, and the family is
negotiating, she said.

Meanwhile, more gunfire erupted Thursday as Haitian police and U.N.
peacekeepers moved into Bel Air, a slum stronghold of ousted President
Jean-Bertrand Aristide. At least one civilian was killed, residents said.

Automatic gunfire echoed for hours in the narrow streets as peacekeepers
crouched behind walls.

Bel Air erupted anew on Wednesday when police fired at protesters. At least
five people were killed.