Haiti paralysed by riots and looting over food prices

ROADS were blocked and sustained gunfire rang out in upscale neighbourhoods in the mountains above Port-au-Price yesterday, as protests and looting over soaring food prices paralysed the Haitian capital.

National television said President Rene Preval, who has made no public statements since the unrest began last week, would address the nation in a speech that could determine the course of the demonstrations — and of his government.

“I believe if President Preval talks to the people about the high cost of living, people will listen to the president and go home,” said Senator Joseph Lambert, a former senate president and a member of Preval’s party. “If not, if there is an attempt at a coup d’etat to remove the president, things will get worse.”