UPDATE 1-Heavy gunfire near Haiti’s National Palace in Port-au-Prince

(Adds background on conflict)

March 8 (Reuters) – Heavy gunfire was seen on Friday near Haiti’s national palace in its capital of Port-au-Prince, according to reports by news agency EFE, in the midst of political turmoil sparked by Prime Minister Ariel Henry’s absence.

Haiti entered a state of emergency last Sunday after fighting escalated, armed gangs broke inmates out of prison , and an estimated over ten thousand people were displaced while Henry was in Kenya seeking a deal for an international force to fight Haiti’s gangs.

The United States earlier this week called on Haiti’s prime minister to

expedite a political transition

as armed gangs seek his ouster.

Henry, Haiti’s unelected interim leader, landed in the U.S. territory of Puerto Rico on Tuesday. (Reporting by Sarah Morland; Editing by Brendan O’Boyle)

(c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2024. Click For Restrictions – https://agency.reuters.com/en/copyright.html