Haiti's police flee rebels in droves

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Haiti's poorly trained and equipped police — accused of crimes ranging from brutalizing suspects to trafficking in drugs — is putting up little resistance as rebels move against the government.

"We do not know who we are protecting," said Cpl. Louis Larieux, 40, a rookie policeman in the capital, Port-au-Prince. "Things are bad. We don't have the reinforcements."

Although they look menacing in their black knee pads, helmets and bullet proof vests, the fear is visible on their faces when dealing with rioters.

Confronted by rebels including ex-soldiers from Haiti's disbanded army, their inclination has been to run. Paid the equivalent of $125 a month, they number fewer than 4,000. But it's not known exactly how many remain on the job...

http://pennlive.com/newsflash/topstories/index.ssf?/base/international-2/1077329641153980.xml

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1. CARE Haiti launches largest urban food distribution in 50 years

Gonaïves, Haiti (Feb. 17, 2004) -- CARE is launching the largest urban food distribution in its 50 years of work in Haiti, the international humanitarian organization said Tuesday. The emergency relief action should be enough to meet important needs of the entire population of the city of Gonaïves. Civil unrest has effectively cut off Gonaïves from the rest of the country, creating food shortages and high prices.

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/fromthefield/107731029515.htm

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2. Aristide Supporters Attack Students in Haiti

Supporters of President Jean-Bertrand Aristide armed with guns, rocks and machetes attacked an opposition student march in the Haitian capital on Friday as foreigners fled the country torn by an armed rebellion.

http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=worldNews&storyID=4406927