Haiti discussed with the United States the lifting of a 13-year arms embargo on Wednesday as its ill-equipped police were facing mounting violence.

The interim government ordered an unspecified quantity of weapons from the United States for Haiti's 3,000-strong police force after street clashes disrupted business activities in the capital of Port-au-Prince, said Haitian Justice Minister Bernard Gousse.

The US State Department said last week that "restrictions on arms exports to Haiti remained in place," but it promised to "consider individual requests from the interim government."

Interim Prime Minister Gerard Latortue blamed the arms embargo for crippling efforts to restore order in the country after a rebellion ousted President Jean-Bertrand Aristide in February.

Washington imposed the arms embargo in 1991 following a military coup first ousted Aristide, who was restored to power in 1994 by US troops.

The new round of violence erupted on Sept. 30 as Aristide supporters took to the streets, demanding his return from exile inSouth Africa.

At least 50 people, including seven police officers, were killed in a terror campaign dubbed "Operation Baghdad" by pro-Aristide militants.

Spiraling violence has hampered shipments of humanitarian aid for victims of the devastating tropical storm Jeanne, which struckthe poorest country in the Western Hemisphere last month, rescue groups said.

Source: Xinhua