November 16, 2010. Anti-UN riots erupt in Haiti

SOURCE:

Altegrity Risk International

Several thousand protesters took to the streets in Cap-Haitien on November 15th to protest the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH), which they blame for a cholera epidemic that killed at least 917 people, reports indicated. Protesters also blamed the UN peacekeepers for the death of a Haitian youth at the base in August 2010. Protesters threw stones and threatened to set fire to a base in the city on November 15th, leading the majority of businesses and transportation to shut down. A bridge leading to the airport was barricaded and access cut off. Haitian national police stations in the city were also targeted and looters raided a World Food Program warehouse, stealing food and a truck. Sporadic gunfire was reported throughout the day and protesters burned tires in roadways. UN soldiers and Haitian police fired tear gas and projectiles to disperse the estimated 1,000 protesters outside the base. An exchange of gunfire in Quartier Morin, outside Cap-Haitien, led to the death of one protester.

Protests were also reported in Hinche, where at least six UN personnel were injured. Meanwhile, a small protest was reported in Gonaives, but remained peaceful.

The UN mission has blamed the violence on political agitators it says are bent on stirring up unrest ahead of November 28 elections.

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