UN troops kill six in Haiti raid

The UN is sending more troops to violence-stricken Haiti

UN peacekeepers in Haiti have killed six suspected criminals in an exchange of fire in a ghetto of the capital, Port-au-Prince.

Five others were reportedly injured and 13 captured during the eight-hour raid.

UN troops also managed to free a young woman who had been kidnapped by a gang on Tuesday.

A 7,000-strong Brazilian-led peacekeeping force has been in Haiti since the ousting of former President Jean-Bertrand Aristide last year.

"Those killed were armed bandits who shot at our troops," said a spokesman for the Brazilian peacekeepers, Col Jorge Smicelato.

"No-one from the civilian population was killed," he added.

Elections

Col Smicelato added that a bound and blindfolded woman had been rescued after her abductors fled from the house were she was being kept.

The operation, involving 300 troops, was aimed at restoring calm in the troubled Bel-Air ghetto, which is dominated by gangs loyal to Mr Aristide.

Haiti has recently seen a spate of kidnappings for ransom.

The United Nations Security Council last week voted to send 750 extra peacekeepers to the troubled island ahead of elections scheduled to take place in October and November.

Haiti has been plagued by political unrest and gang violence since Mr Aristide was ousted in February 2004.

His supporters have been calling for his return from South Africa, where he is currently living in exile.