[Published: Monday November 19 2018]
 Six killed in Haiti anti-corruption protests
PORT-AU-PRINCE 19 Nov (ANA) - Six people have been killed and at least five others wounded during anti-corruption protests across Haiti, according to police, as anger grows over the disappearance of billions of dollars linked to a public finance programme.
Thousands of Haitians marched in the capital, Port-au-Prince, and other parts of the country on Sunday calling for a probe into the spending of $3.8bn Haiti received from Venezuela as part of an oil assistance programme.
President Jovenel Moise called for dialogue with opposition groups that are seeking his resignation for failing to investigate corruption.
Clashes with police erupted on Sunday after protesters blocked streets and set fire to tires.
Four people were wounded in clashes in San Marcos, northeast of the capital, and dozens were arrested, police said. There were also reports of clashes in smaller protests across the country.
Police said they deployed more than 3,000 officers in the capital, the city of Cap-Haitien and smaller cities and towns.
Tensions have been running high in the Latin American nation since an investigation by Haiti's Senate revealed alleged embezzlement by at least 14 former government officials in former president Michel Martelly's administration.
The senate's report, which was published in August, has accused two former prime ministers and former government officials of abuse of authority and forgery stemming from the use of funds in the Venezuelan-sponsored Petrocaribe programme. No one has been charged yet.
The demonstrators demanded a trial of officials involved in the alleged misuse of public funds.
"The Haitians are tired of the system. They want the system to change, and reverse, and (for) the benefit of the community," Samuel Louis, a protester, said.(ANA)
FA/ANA/19 November 2018--------
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Amnesty/Report