GONAIVES, Haiti - Police attacked rebels holed up in a slum in the port city of St. Marc yesterday and gunmen loyal to President Jean-Bertrand Aristide torched homes, killing two people as looting and reprisals raged in a popular revolt that has left at least 45 dead.
Outside Gonaives, where the uprising began last Thursday, witnesses said people necklaced a man accused of being an Aristide spy.
They put tires on him
poured gasoline and burned him 17-year-old Patricia Joseph said. Everyone stood up and said it was good.
With the Haitian government locked in a deadly battle with opponents, the White House yesterday issued a rebuke of Aristide's government.
We are extremely concerned about the wave of violence spreading through Haiti. And we certainly deeply regret the loss of life said Scott McClellan, press secretary to President Bush. We call on the government to respect the rights
especially human rights
of the citizens and residents of Haiti.
Haiti has suffered increasing violence since Aristide's party swept flawed legislative elections in 2000 and international donors blocked millions in aid. Opponents say they will not take part in new elections unless Aristide resigns.
In St. Marc, an important port 45 miles west of Port-au-Prince, gunmen loyal to Aristide shot up a southern neighborhood before dawn yesterday and torched three houses, witnesses said. They said two people were killed; it was unclear whether they died in the blaze or in the shooting.
Government opponents burned down a clinic because officials refused to hand over two wounded anti-government militants, Radio Vision 2000 reported. It said Aristide militants seeking revenge then set an opposition radio station ablaze.
In the northern port of Cap-Haitien, sporadic gunshots crackled overnight and attackers looted a food warehouse, taking advantage of a blackout because the city has run out of fuel for generators.
Aristide supporters set up barricades, blocking the city for a second day against a possible rebel incursion.
We're going to devour them
Jean-Claude Joseph, 35, said at a roadblock.
In Gonaives, rebels controlled crowds fighting over dwindling gasoline supplies.
Get in line. Don't push! shouted three rebels who held their rifles high in the air in warning. People obeyed.
I've been here since 6 o'clock
Antrecil Petithomme, in her 60s, said.
I want to resell it and try to buy some flour to make food
she said, explaining that food prices have multiplied since rebels and citizens supporting them have blocked roads with massive barricades against a possible counterattack by police.
The World Health Organization said a food crisis is looming because roadblocks are preventing deliveries to 268,000 people in the north dependent on food aid.
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