Haitian Gangs Flee The Capital By BBC - Caribbean February 28, 2007 ........................................................................................................................................ Haitian officials say heavily armed gangs are fleeing the capital's dangerous slums and establishing new bases in provincial areas. The gangs are apparently trying to avoid raids by UN peacekeeping forces. But their flight into other areas is said to be creating panic in rural populations in the country. Lawmaker Patrick Joseph says one gang leader known as Belony,chased recently from the Cite Soleil slum by UN troops, now leads a group of about one hundred gunmen near the northern town of Saint-Michel. Mr. Joseph who represents the town, has called on the government and security forces to act quickly to avoid the situation there deteriorating. Gunmen a threat He said the gang members were making no effort to hide and the town's population was frightened to death. Prosperie Raymond is Christian Aid's project director in Haiti. He told the BBC that the armed gangs behind the violence in the country are being encouraged by unscrupulous business people. "I think the violence now is not politically motivated. It's a few sectors, their businesses was going very well under the unstable government, they are now financing gangs, etc, to continue with their privilege" the Christian Aid official said. Stepped up UN operations UN peacekeepers, sent to Haiti after then president Jean Bertrand Aristide was ousted in an armed rebellion three years ago, have stepped up operations against slum gangs in recent weeks. The United Nations Security Council voted two weeks ago to extend the peacekeeping mission for eight months. It also asked MINUSTAH, as the UN force is known locally, to step up operations against gangs. Following the latest reports of gunmen taking to the rural areas, a police spokesman said measures were being considered to counter the gangs. In addition to heading for the provinces, gang members have also attempted to flee across the border to the neighbouring Dominican Republic. latest news Jamaica Police Investigages Scam British Prime Minister Sorry for Slavery CARICOM Issues Explored Angllicans Face Difficult Summit Trinidadian Carnival Exodus New Caribbean Program Premiers on NY TV Exemption for Antigua Nurses More Complaints About CARICOM Grenada Goofs: Anthem Mixup Windies Selectors to Mull Over CWC Squad More Cricket World Cup Semis Tickets on Sale JA Airport Revamp Won't Be Ready for Cup Celebrating Bob Marley with Food & Fashion CARICOM Single Space Travel Begins Caribbean Tops Prisoner's List AIDS Discrimination in the Caribbean Whaling Showdown Likely Record Year for Global Tourism Five Killed by Jamaican Police Four Dead in Haiti UN Operation   | | | | |