Haiti Parliament to meet in emergency session
PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (CMC) — Haiti’s Interim President Jocelerme Privert has called an emergency meeting of Parliament to discuss a number of issues amid fears by Opposition politicians that he could use the occasion to further delay presidential elections in the French-speaking Caribbean Community country.
According to the decree issued by Privert, the Parliament, with many of the lawmakers on annual leave, will discuss issues ranging from the draft penal code to a law creating a basic public service in communal sections.
But political observers note that “nothing appears in the agenda concerning the non-holding of elections provided for in the agreement of February 6”.
They said that contrary to what some parliamentarians say, nothing in the agreement could force the Privert “to explain the failure to respect the planned timetable concerning the absence or delay of elections within the framework of its mandate.”
Gunmen in green uniforms attack police station in Haiti
PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) — A few dozen gunmen wearing green uniforms attacked a police station in Haiti’s southern peninsula before dawn Monday, killing an officer and wounding at least two others before fleeing.
The Haitian National Police said some of the assailants tried to escape in a white van that swerved off a road and tumbled into a ravine, killing three of the attackers. Four men survived and were captured. One gunman died in a shootout with officers at the station.
Octave Jean, chief police inspector in coastal Les Cayes, said there were as many as 50 attackers wearing camouflage or faded green uniforms that appeared to be from Haiti’s long disbanded military.
It wasn’t immediately clear if the gunmen were demobilized soldiers.
Jean said the assailants ransacked the Les Cayes police station, stole guns and “tortured” officers. One of the wounded police officers was taken for emergency treatment in Port-au-Prince, the capital about 100 miles (160 kilometers) away.
“We were caught off guard but this will not happen again,” Jean said from Les Cayes. “We have control of the situation now and our investigation is under way.”