Haitians protest for more effective security measures

Some 300 Haitians held a sit-in Monday outside the United Nations peacekeepers' headquarters, demanding more effective measures against the escalating violence in the country, according to reports from Port-au-Prince, the capital of Haiti.

Political leaders, human rights activists, and businessmen led the march to the base, in Bourdon, of the UN Stabilization Mission in Haiti (Minustah), a 7,500-strong force sent to keep order after the ousting of Jean-Bertrand Aristide in February 2004.

Andre Apaid, one of the protest leaders, read out an open letter to UN secretary General Kofi Annan, calling for help in the disarmament of Haiti.

"It would have a considerable impact in the proper development of the elections" planned for Feb. 7, Apaid said, reiterating that their demands were justified due to the widening insecurity in the capital.

According to Apaid, violence could prevent a million of Haiti's three million eligible voters from casting their votes.

The demonstration took place without incident, but there was a moment of tension when a Minustah vehicle tried to go through the demonstrating crowd.

"We will not be afraid, we will never be afraid," the crowd shouted.

Some Haitian presidential candidates supported the demonstrations.

Source: Xinhua