HAITI: Anti-government rebels took control of at least eight towns in eastern Haiti yesterday and the death toll rose to at least 46 people as violent opposition to President Jean-Bertrand Aristide spread across the country.
Armed opponents of the president have been rioting since Thursday, setting police stations on fire and driving officers from the north-western city of Gonaives and several smaller nearby towns.
"We are in a situation of armed popular insurrection," said opposition politician and former coup leader Himler Rebu.
Hundreds of Haitians looted TV sets, mattresses and sacks of flour from shipping containers yesterday in St Marc, one of several communities seized by rebels in a bloody uprising against Mr Aristide.
Using felled trees, burning tyres and old cars, residents blocked streets throughout St Marc a day after militants drove out police in gunbattles that killed two people. Many residents have formed neighbourhood groups to back insurgents in their push to expel the president.
In the bloodiest fights of recent days, 150 police tried to retake control of Gonaives on Saturday but left hours later after a series of gunbattles, witnesses said. At least nine people were killed, seven of them police, in battles with rebels.
Haitian radio stations reported claims by other rebels that as many as 14 police were killed in Gonaives on Saturday, but that couldn't be confirmed.
Police have deserted at least six other nearby towns, including Ennery, Gros Morne, L'Estere, Anse Rouge, Petite Riviere de l'Artibonite and Trou du Nord, according to the Haitian Press Network, a local news service.
Attackers set fire to the police stations of Gonaives, St Marc and Trou du Nord.