At least 12 people killed in Haiti

At least 12 people killed in Haiti

Armed gangs attacked two upscale neighborhoods in the Haitian capital early Monday, in a rampage that left at least a dozen dead in surrounding areas, AP reported.

Armed men looted homes in the communities of Laboule and Thomassin before sunrise, forcing residents to flee as some called radio stations asking for police. These neighborhoods had remained largely peaceful despite the increase in violent gang attacks in Port-au-Prince since February 29.

Bodies of at least twelve men strewn across the streets of Pétionville, located just below the mountainous communities of Laboule and Thomassin.

The most recent attacks have raised fears that gang violence will not stop, although Prime Minister Ariel Henry announced almost a week ago that he would resign once a council presidential transition would have been put in place, which the gangs had demanded.

As gang violence continues unabated, Caribbean leaders have helped create a transition council. Originally, this council was to be composed of seven members with voting rights. But one Haitian political party rejected the seat it was offered, and another is still arguing over who should be nominated.

Meanwhile , the deployment of a UN-backed Kenyan police force to combat gangs in Haiti has been delayed, with the East African country saying it would wait for the transition council to be established.