Thousands call for quake president to go

Police fired tear gas outside the ruins of Haiti’s national palace to control 2,000 demonstrators calling for President Rene Preval’s resignation in the largest political protest since the January 12 earthquake.

Lorries filled with riot police rolled behind the protesters as they jogged past tarpaulins and shanties yesterday, shouting insults at Mr Preval, who has been criticised for his low profile following the quake and for allegedly using the destruction as a pretext to stay in office beyond his term.