Haiti swears in new PM as gangs shoot at flight landing at airport

[ad_1]

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti — Haiti’s international airport shut down temporarily Monday after gangs opened fire at a Spirit Airlines flight landing in Port-Au-Prince, the U.S. State Department and the airline said. The latest violence came as a new prime minister was sworn in.

The flight, headed from Fort Lauderdale to Port-Au-Prince, was hit multiple times by gunfire as it was set to land in Haiti’s capital, striking a flight attendant, who suffered minor injuries. Photos and videos obtained by The Associated Press show bullet holes dotting the interior of a plane.

The flight was diverted and landed in the Dominican Republic, according to Spirit Airlines. It appeared to be part of what the U.S. Embassy called “gang-led efforts to block travel to and from Port-au-Prince which may include armed violence, and disruptions to roads, ports, and airports.”

In other parts of Haiti’s capital, firefights between gangs and police broke out. Rounds of gunfire echoed through the streets as heavily armed officers ducked behind walls and civilians ran in terror. In other upper-class areas, gangs set fire to homes. Schools closed as panic spread in a number of areas.

Journalists take cover from the exchange of gunfire between gangs and police in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Nov. 11, 2024.

The turmoil comes a day after a council meant to reestablish democratic order in the Caribbean nation fired the interim Prime Minister Garry Conille, replacing him with businessman Alix Didier Fils-Aime. The council has been marked by infighting and three members were recently accused of corruption.

On Monday, suit-clad diplomats and security officials flocked to the swearing-in ceremony, set to take place in the afternoon.

The country has seen weeks of political chaos, which observers warned could result in even more violence in a place where bloodshed has become the new normal. The country's gangs have long capitalized on political turmoil to make power grabs, shutting down airports, shipping ports and stirring chaos.

The transitional council was established in April, tasked with choosing Haiti’s next prime minister and Cabinet with the hope that it would help quell violence, which exploded after Haitian President Jovenel Moise was assassinated in 2021.

The council was meant to pave the way to democratic elections, which haven’t been held in years in Haiti. Gangs have capitalized on that power vacuum to make their own power grabs.

But the council has been plagued with politics and infighting, and has long been at odds with Garry Conille, the interim prime minister they handpicked six months ago, who they fired yesterday.

Organizations including the Organization of American States tried and failed last week to mediate disagreements to save the fragile transition.

[ad_1]

Source link : http://www.bing.com/news/apiclick.aspx?ref=FexRss&aid=&tid=67329ad286e9453c90d7b8d985358de9&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.voanews.com%2Fa%2Fhaiti-swears-in-pm-as-gangs-shoot-at-flight-landing-at-airport%2F7860208.html&c=8953746745659096543&mkt=en-us Author : Publish date : 2024-11-11 07:14:00 Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source .

M	T	W	T	F	S	S
	1	2	3	4	5	6
7	8	9	10	11	12	13
14	15	16	17	18	19	20
21	22	23	24	25	26	27
28	29	30	31

Haiti swears in new PM as gangs shoot at flight landing at airport

Gulf of Mexico Oil Output Down 25% As Storm Rafael Hits. Chevron, Shell Restart Gulf Operations…

Employer lockouts close Canada’s largest container ports in Montreal and British Columbia

Employer lockouts close Canada’s largest container ports in Montreal and British Columbia

Iran Slams America’s ‘Criminal Economic Blockade’ Against Cuba

Uncover the Secrets Behind the Dominican Republic’s Status as Central America’s Second Most Peaceful Paradise!

Reviving Democracy: The Alarming Drop in Youth Voter Turnout in Latin America

Chaos at the Cockfight: Disguised Gunmen Launch Deadly Attack, Claiming 12 Lives

El Salvador’s President Bukele Stands Firm Against Returning Maryland Man to the U.S

Soar Through the Skies: Discover Brazil and Beyond in Microsoft Flight Simulator’s Exciting World Update 19!

Exploring America’s Untold Dreams: The Enigmatic Danish Territory Beyond Greenland

Unforgettable Moments: The Day U.S. Troops Invaded Grenada

Charting a Bright Future: Unlocking Guatemala’s Potential

Unleashing the Power: The Men’s National Team’s Epic Journey Through Concacaf

Categories

Archives