UN troops take control of Port-au-Prince slum loyal to Aristide; 3 shot

Updated at 14:42 on December 14, 2004, EST.

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) – Hundreds of UN peacekeeping troops stormed into a seaside slum loyal to ousted president Jean-Bertrand Aristide on Tuesday in an effort to control areas that have become flashpoints of violence. At least three people were shot.

Sporadic gunfire rang out from Cite Soleil as Brazilian and Jordanian troops entered the area in armoured personnel carriers, exchanging fire with armed residents. Three people with gunshot wounds were carried through a United Nations roadblock. Residents said they had been shot by armed thugs, according to a reporter on scene from The Associated Press.

Cite Soleil, a gritty slum on the border of Port-au-Prince, has been a focal point of violence since September, when Aristide loyalists stepped up protests to demand his return from exile in South Africa. At least 104 people have been killed in political violence since Sept. 30.

Aristide fled the country Feb. 29 after a three-week uprising against his government.

UN officials said they planned to patrol the Aristide stronghold for at least two months until they can transfer operations to Haiti’s beleaguered police.

The troops planned to dismantle roadblocks set up by armed civilians and secure control of two police stations in the slum.

The Canadian Press, 2004