In pictures: Haiti capital’s streets blocked as protests spread

Anti-governing administration protesters barricaded important streets in the Haitian funds, Port-au-Prince, on Monday.

The blockades came a day following police demanding much better functioning problems attacked the military headquarters in the town.

The federal government of President Jovenel Moïse called the attack “a coup try” and the armed forces spoke of a “war circumstance”.

At least two men and women died in Sunday’s clashes.

On Monday, protesters scattered bricks, burning tyres and overturned ice-product carts on the streets primary to the residence of President Moïse, whose resignation they demand.

Big elements of the town ended up deserted a day after law enforcement officers surrounded the army headquarters and opened hearth. Some of people using aspect in the shoot-out were being in police uniform.

Gen Jodel Lesage of the Haitian armed forces advised local media: “We are beneath fireplace by weapons of all kinds, automatic rifles, petrol bombs, tear gasoline.”

The government said it was “an assault on flexibility and democracy”. Police officers claimed that they experienced occur below assault very first.

They have been protesting for weeks. One particular of their key calls for is to be authorized to variety a union, which they say will assure a lot more transparency when they conduct negotiations with their superiors. They also want far better shell out.

President Moïse previous week announced the creation of a monetary fund for relations of officers who have been killed in the line of obligation, but the shift has failed to appease the disgruntled officers.

Subsequent the clashes, the authorities declared it would terminate all remaining carnival celebrations “to steer clear of a massacre”.

Media playback is unsupported on your device

These are not the 1st protests Mr Moïse has faced. Previous calendar year Haitians took to the streets around the dire point out of Haiti’s overall economy, which they blame on the governing administration.

Mr Moïse has been in electrical power due to the fact 2017 and has reported he would not go away the nation in the “palms of armed gangs and drug traffickers”.

All pictures issue to copyright.