27124: (news) Chamberlain: Haiti-Peacekeeper commander (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

   By BEN FOX

   PORT-AU-PRINCE, January 7 (AP) -- The Brazilian commander of U.N.
peacekeeping forces in Haiti was found dead and covered in blood on the
balcony of his hotel room Saturday, and Brazil's state news agency said he
was the victim of "a firearm accident."
   Lt. Gen. Urano Teixeira da Matta Bacellar was commander of the
7,600-strong peacekeeping force in this impoverished Caribbean nation,
which is attempting to restore democracy two years after a rebellion
overthrew President Jean-Bertrand Aristide. Peacekeepers from more than 40
countries have struggled to control gangs that still hold sway in sprawling
slums.
   U.N. officials Saturday swarmed the upscale Hotel Montana, where
Bacellar died, but they declined to comment to reporters.
   Bacellar's body was slumped against the side of the hotel balcony, with
blood staining his white T-shirt. He also was wearing boxer shorts and
black sandals.
   Brazilian Army Lt. Col. Fernando da Cunha Matos told the official
Agencia Brasil news agency that Bacellar, 57, died after a "firearm
accident." He did not elaborate.
   A forensics team of Haitian police also was on the scene in the
upper-class neighborhood of Petionville.
   Bacellar's death came days after election officials postponed national
elections for the fourth time. Officials have blamed security problems and
delays in distributing voter registration cards and setting up polling
stations. The elections had been planned for Jan. 8. No new date has been
set.
   It was not immediately clear if Bacellar's death would affect planning
for a new timetable.
   U.N. soldiers have been struggling to control slum areas including the
seaside section known as Cite Soleil, where gangs have stashed numerous
hostages taken in a surge in kidnappings that peaked over the Christmas and
New Year's holidays.
   Two election workers from the Organization of American States and one of
their spouses were among the kidnap victims and have since been released.
   Bacellar assumed control over the force in late August. He replaced
Brazilian Lt. Gen. Augusto Heleno Ribeiro, who had led U.N. troops since
they were deployed to Haiti in June 2004 to restore stability after the
bloody revolt against Aristide, who lives in exile in South Africa.
   The peacekeeping force is comprised of 6,200 troops and 1,400 civilian
police officers.
   Bacellar is survived by his wife and two children. Family members
contacted by local media in Brazil declined to comment.
   The Brazilian Army issued a statement saying that it "profoundly
lamented" Bacellar's death and would closely follow the investigations in
Haiti.
   ------
   Associated Press reporter Tales Azzoni in Sao Paulo, Brazil, contributed
to this report.