Global Policy Forum

Hundreds of United Nations peacekeeping troops on Tuesday stormed a stronghold of supporters of the ousted president, Jean-Bertrand Aristide, seeking control of areas of this capital that have become flashpoints of violence. At least four people were killed, including a 2-year-old who was found shot dead in the area, a slum known as Cité-Soleil, before the United Nations operation began, said Damian Onses-Cardona, a spokesman for the United Nations peacekeeping mission.

Shootouts broke out between residents and troops who rolled into Cité-Soleil before dawn, Mr. Onses-Cardona said. At least six people were shot, including a 26-year-old woman, a 16-year-old youth and a 13-year-old boy, all wounded during exchanges of gunfire between peacekeepers and residents.

Violence has plagued Cité-Soleil since September, when Aristide loyalists increased protests to demand his return from exile in South Africa. Since Mr. Aristide left the country on Feb. 29 during a three-week rebellion, Haiti's American-backed provisional government has struggled to stem violence committed by gangsters, pro-Aristide gangs, anti-Aristide gangs and the former Army soldiers who led the revolt. The former soldiers have grown frustrated with the government, which has yet to formally reinstate the army.

As United Nations troops patrolled Cité-Soleil on Tuesday, gunmen tore through a commercial area of the capital, shooting into the air, burning roadside stands and looting. By Tuesday afternoon, at least 19 people had been shot, according to hospital officials and residents. It was unclear where most of the shootings occurred.

United Nations officials said they planned to patrol the area for at least two months, until they could transfer operations to Haiti's beleaguered police. Many police officers who had been loyal to Mr. Aristide fled their posts during the rebellion out of fear of reprisals. Nearly 20 police officers have been killed since Sept. 30, possibly by Aristide supporters. The United Nations troops planned to dismantle roadblocks erected by residents and gain control of two police stations in the slum.

Mr. Onses-Cardona said the operation involved hundreds of Brazilian, Jordanian and Sri Lankan troops, flanked by Chinese police officers and Chilean helicopters. He said that most of the troops left after several hours, but that similar operations would occur daily. The show of force came a week after the United Nations mission chief, Juan Gabriel Valdés, promised a crackdown on armed groups, saying troops would disarm gangsters for the first time since the United Nations forces arrived.

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