27269: (news) Chamberlain: Haiti-Peacekeepers Killed (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

Chamberlain

   By EDITH M. LEDERER

   UNITED NATIONS, Jan 17 (AP) -- Gunmen killed two Jordanian U.N.
peacekeepers and seriously wounded a third Tuesday at a checkpoint in a
slum in Haiti's capital that is a stronghold for supporters of former
President Jean-Bertrand Aristide, a spokesman said.
   The shootings in the Cite Soleil slum in Port-au-Prince occurred three
weeks before long-postponed presidential and legislative elections to
replace the interim government imposed after Aristide fled the country.
   The three Jordanian peacekeepers were manning the checkpoint when they
came under fire, U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric said.
   Haiti's elections have been repeatedly postponed because of logistical
and security problems in the Western Hemisphere's poorest nation. They are
now set for Feb. 7
   U.S. Ambassador John Bolton said "the security situation there is very,
very disturbing."
   Asked whether the elections should go ahead on Feb. 7, Bolton said,
"that's the announced plan of the government of Haiti, and that's what we
think ought to happen."
   The shootings came a day after Haitian politicians and business leaders
rallied in front of U.N. headquarters in Port-au-Prince to press the
peacekeepers to end violence jeopardizing the elections.
   Last week, a general strike was called to protest a wave of kidnappings
by armed gangs that has terrified Haitians and overshadowed efforts to
restore democracy.
   Chanting protesters last week filled Cite Soleil's narrow streets to
denounce violence and political chaos after clashes between gangs and U.N.
peacekeepers reportedly left one person dead and at least 17 wounded.
   Cite Soleil, home to some 300,000 people, is a stronghold for supporters
of Aristide and Rene Preval, a one-time ally of the ousted president who is
considered the front-runner in the election.
   The U.N. Staff Union reported earlier this month that deadly attacks
against U.N. personnel increased by more than 75 percent in 2005. The
highest death toll in 2005 was in Congo, where 13 peacekeepers were killed,
and the second-highest was in Haiti, where six peacekeepers lost their
lives.