Haiti protesters clash with police over oil prices
Port-au-Prince (AFP) - Protesters clashed with each other and police in the Haitian capital Monday amid demonstrations against high oil prices that saw three people wounded by gunfire.
Police patrols opened fire and threw tear gas to disperse knots of young people blocking roads with large rocks and tree branches.
"We demand that oil prices drop by 100 gourdes (about $2) per liter)," union leader Anderson Desroches told reporters.
The new Haitian government announced a slight decrease of 15 gourdes ($0.32) per liter of gas and 10 gourdes ($0.21) on kerosene, which the unions deemed insufficient.
Numerous violent incidents took place during the protests.
At least three people were wounded by gunshots in a neighborhood south of the capital during clashes between protesting youths and police.
Protesters smashed car windows with stones in the center of Port-au-Prince, where youths blocked major roads to force drivers to a standstill.
Automatic weapons fire was heard around the capital.
A public transport strike disrupted the operations of government offices, businesses and schools.
Transport unions called for a two day strike to demand lower oil prices in the wake of lower fares on the international market.
