A Brazilian United Nations (U.N.) peacekeeper stands guard during a military operation in the volatile neighbourhood of Citi-Militaire, Port-au-Prince. Yesterday, U.N. troops took control of a Port-au-Prince slum where four people were killed in clashes between U.N. peacekeepers and criminal gangs,
U.N. officials said. - REUTERS
PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP):
THE UNITED Nations in Haiti presented its security plan yesterday for the upcoming national elections, saying it was ready to assure voter safety for the long-awaited polls.
Security has considerably improved throughout Haiti and most violence was occurring only in the capital and its slums, said U.N. military spokesman Lt. Col. El Ouafi Boulbars.
The U.N.'s 7,600-strong peacekeeping mission came to Haiti in June 2004, four months after a violent rebellion led to the ouster of President Jean-Bertrand Aristide.
1,500 VIOLENT DEATHS
Human rights groups and international organisations say at least 1,500 people have died in the violence in the capital in the past year, much of it blamed on street gangs that allegedly support Aristide, now in exile in South Africa, and his Lavalas party.
U.N. spokesman Damian Onses-Cardona outlined the U.N.'s security plan for the polls: They have identified the danger level for each of the planned 809 voting centres so they can provide appropriate staffing, and they have trained 3,600 civilians to act as security personnel at the polls.
Authorities have scheduled the elections for December 27, after three postponements.
Since Monday, however, the Provisional Electoral Council - in charge of organising the vote - has delayed officially confirming the date.
The council has since said the electoral calendar was not clear. Several council members have said they thought the date could be postponed again for logistical reasons.
