PORT-AU-Prince, Haiti (AFP) — The United States voiced hope Monday that a transitional body to lead Haiti could be ready “as soon as today”.

“I understand that Haitian stakeholders are very close to finalising membership and remain in active discussions with Caricom (Caribbean Community) leaders as it relates to the make-up of the Transitional Presidential Council,” said US State Department spokesman Vedant Patel.

“I expect them to have an update, hopefully as soon as today,” Patel said.

“The announcement of this council, we believe, will help pave the way for free and fair elections and the deployment of the Multinational Security Support Mission,” he said, referring to a yet-to-be deployed Kenyan-led stabilisation force for Haiti.

Under the deal reached after talks in Kingston one week ago, Haitian Prime Minister Ariel Henry — who has been in power without elections since the assassination of Haiti’s last president in 2021 — agreed to step down after the council is set up.

The council, which will include seven voting and two observer members, representing a broad spectrum in Haiti and its Diaspora, will be in charge of naming an interim Government before elections.

News of the latest statement form the US State Department came as reports out of Haiti said 14 bodies were found in a suburb of the capital Port-au-Prince after an attack by gang members who have ravaged the country for weeks.

Residents told AFP they did not know the circumstances of the deaths but said that the affluent suburb of Petion-Ville had been under attack by what they said were armed criminals since early Monday.

Witnesses said gang members attacked a bank, a gas station, and homes in the area.

Haiti has been engulfed for two weeks in a gang uprising by well-armed groups, saying they want to topple Henry.

Last week Henry agreed to step aside to allow formation of an interim Government, following pressure from neighbouring Caribbean countries and the United States.

UNICEF, the United Nations’ children’s agency, offered a dire assessment of the situation in Haiti, saying Sunday it was “almost like a scene out of Mad Max”, which is an Australian post-apocalyptic action film series in which a society is facing great suffering or injustice.

UNICEF also warned that Haitian people were suffering “famine and malnutrition”, with aid groups unable to gain access.

On Sunday, a curfew was extended until Wednesday in the Ouest department, which includes Port-au-Prince. A state of emergency is set to end April 3.

Several countries, including the US and European Union member states, have evacuated diplomatic personnel from Haiti due to the crisis.

Meanwhile, efforts are continuing to organise a Kenyan-led security mission to back up the Caribbean island nation’s overwhelmed police force.