State of emergency extended in Haiti as gang attacks paralyse capital

Pedestrians walk past a court building that was set on fire by gangs (Odelyn Joseph/AP)

Haiti’s government is extending a state of emergency and night-time curfew to try to curb violent gang attacks that have paralysed the capital of Port-au-Prince amid a fierce political battle for power.

An initial three-day curfew was announced over the weekend but gangs have continued to attack police stations and other state institutions at night as Haiti’s National Police struggles to contain the violence with limited staff and resources.