UN forces open fire on Haitian protest

UN peacekeepers opened fire yesterday on Haitians protesting election results, killing at least one and wounding four, witnesses said as flaming roadblocks paralysed the capital.

Hundreds of screaming demonstrators elsewhere stormed into an upscale hotel housing an electoral office in the hills above Port-au-Prince and helicopters landed on the roof to evacuate guests. Journalists saw the body of a man in the street in the Tabarre neighbourhood, a T-shirt bearing the image of leading candidate Rene Preval soaked in blood.

Witnesses said Jordanian UN peacekeepers opened fire on them, killing two and wounding four. The body of the second victim was not at the scene.