Eleven in Haiti Shot During Anti-Government Rally,

AFP

Eleven in Haiti Shot During Anti-Government Rally, AFP Reports

Jan. 27– Eleven people were shot when they demanded the ouster of Haitian President Jean-Bertrand Aristide during a rally in the southwestern city of Petit-Goaves, Agence France-Presse reported, citing a radio account.

Armed supporters of Aristide shot the protesters in a clash, AFP said. Another 15,000 people marched in the capital of the Caribbean country, Port-au-Prince, for the second consecutive day, demanding Aristide?s ouster, AFP said.

Organizer Andre Apaid, of the Democratic Platform opposition group, said the protesters were trying to send a message to the Caribbean Community, which has called for a peaceful end to the deadlock that began after the disputed May 2000 elections, AFP said. One person was killed in the town of Gonaives yesterday in a protest, AFP said.

While Aristide said earlier this month he would hold elections within the next six months, the opposition says it won?t participate in a vote unless he steps down first. International aid to the country, the Western Hemisphere?s poorest, hinges on a political settlement.