25236: Wharram - News - Haiti Violence Spurs U.S. to Evacuate Embassy Workers, Families (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

>From Bruce Wharram <bruce.wharram@sev.org>


 Haiti Violence Spurs U.S. to Evacuate Embassy Workers, Families

May 27 (Bloomberg) -- A surge in carjackings, kidnappings and gang
roadblocks prompted the U.S. Embassy in Haiti today to evacuate all
non-emergency workers and family members.

U.S. citizens were advised to defer travel to the Caribbean nation and
depart Haiti ``if they can do so safely,'' in a statement on the State
Department's Web site. The travel warning noted the lack of an effective
police force.

``There's no one incident that prompted this,'' State Department spokeswoman
Susan Pittman said. ``It's an increase in violent crime in general.'' It's
at least the second time since October that U.S. embassy workers were
advised or ordered to evacuate.

Haiti, the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, has depended on United
Nations, U.S. and foreign troops for security since President Jean-Bertrand
Aristide was forced from power during a February 2004 rebellion. The former
French colony has a history of political instability since declaring
independence in 1804 after a revolt by a half-million black slaves.

UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan said in a May 20 report that security in
Haiti is ``fragile'' and periods before and after elections have been
``historically volatile.'' He asked the Security Council for an extra 750
soldiers and 125 police to aid the UN peacekeeping mission. The world body
has 7,413 troops and police in Haiti already.

To contact the reporter on this story:
Demian McLean in Washington at  dmclean8@bloomberg.net.

Last Updated: May 27, 2005 10:39 EDT