Deadly Food Riots in Haiti

ANCHOR:
Officials in southern Haiti say at least people are daed after demonstrations against rising food prices turned into riots. U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon is calling on the international community and Haiti's leaders to keep up their efforts to bring stability to the country.

STORY:
Scores of Haitians rioted in the southern town of Les Cayes, blocking roads and looting stores.
Some also fired shots at UN peace-keepers and they fired back in response.

Haitians have been staging sporadic protests against the soaring cost of food for two days running.
Haiti is the poorest country in the Americas and prices for the basics - rice, beans and fruit - have rising by 50 per cent in the last year.

[Jean Marie, Student]:
"The government does not understand anything about the people. They do not listen to the people, all they do is manage the game of politics. First, it was about corruption, then about double nationality and now again about corruption... We want them to know we understand the game the government's playing; all we ask is to bring down food prices."

Prime Minister Jacques Edouard Alexis condemned the violence but said drug dealers had manipulated the demonstrations.

[Jacques Edouard Alexis, Haitian Prime Minister]:
"Do not let others tell you what is not right. For example, when they blame the UN for the high cost of living...the Haitian government does not spend any money on the UN's budget."

He announced $10 million will be put towards bringing down food costs and putting people to work.
Les Cayes is reported tense after the riots, with the UN bolstering its forces to the volatile country in a bid to restore calm.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• ntd
• Haiti
• dead
• riots
• Ban
• Ki-moon
• U.N.
• Secretary
• General
• Les
• Cayes

[rosey10880]

America has done more than enough to try and help poor people around the world. I think it's about time we tell these people that they need to help themselves. If we continue to give money away in this economy we will be worse off than haiti. In fact you will probably see americans risking their lives just to get to haiti or any where that is not america.

[yosho22]

Everything he says it's true .Iremember in the 90s United States gave Haitians army free automatic gang ,later the same gans was used for the coup d'atat.Ther are many thing that showed US nerver like Haiti country,wanted to take over Lnavaze iland,kiled are blak pigs, rice platantation, berning down tyres trees,in the north,occupation,1919,we a free nation we love areselves and we love to be black no mather what it is we still going to survive

[nigouer]

simply unbelievable, they cant seem to do anything without jumping around like rabid gorillas, what a disgusting filthy useless race

[lucy9359]

why are Americans so rude racist and arrogant I don't get it every video of black people they insult and every video of Canadian people they insult what is up with the racism????

[lucy9359]

@rosey10880 Do you still believe that now after what came out in the news against your corupt wall street goldman and sache..the world bank of course founded by America...I want to point out I am white and I am Canadian and I am very aware that the American government has done more to put every nation in this world in to the poverty they are in not to get them out...what a pile of bologne you have been fed! You need to read some history other than your own.read about the oil you hyjacked from us

[Rsaint17]

@HOD0R I cant win with you..... I suppose i should kneel down and honor white accomplishments

[HOD0R]

@Rsaint17

not angry, just saying how it is.

[Rsaint17]

@HOD0R Why are you so angry..... You seem like you have nothing better to do on christmas then to bash black people....

[HOD0R]

@Rsaint17

Niggeria has a low HDI of 0.423, the Nigger delta is polluted from apes damaging pipelines to steal oil, their elections are a farce and the country is unstable. Is this your nigger paradise?

No, I wouldn't talk to any of these primitives in fear of them throwing their faeces at me.

[Rsaint17]

@HOD0R Nigeria??....... I bet you would not say that to this "niggers" face or any for that matter

[Rsaint17]

@rosey10880 i can respect your comment because you didnt bash or put a label on anyone