Demonstration after alleged attempt on the life of former Haiti president Aristide
PORT AU PRINCE, Haiti (CMC) — Supporters of former president Jean Bertrand Aristide staged a protest in Haiti late Monday after reports emerged that he had survived an assassination attempt on his life.
“Aristide is unscathed, but a security guard was injured and at least one Lavalas sympathiser,” said a member of the board of Famni Lavalas, the political party to which Aristide is affiliated.
Police have not yet commented on the incident, but Aristide’s attorney, Ira Kurzban, said that the attack took place as the former Roman Catholic priest who served as head of state on three occasions between 1991 to 2004, was returning to his vehicle after having appeared as a witness.
The 63-year-old Aristide had been summoned to appear before investigating judge Jean Wilner Morin, who is probing allegations of money laundering involving the former commissioner of police, Jean Anthony Nazaire.
“Shots were fired directly at the vehicle in which President Aristide was,” said IKurzban, the Miami-based lawyer, who is representing Aristide.
The attorney said there was blood on the front bumper of the vehicle, adding “thank God, no one was killed.”
Another of Aristide’s lawyer, Mario Joseph said the incident was an “assassination attempt” on the former president who was ousted from office in 2004 and later went into exile in South Africa.
As news of the incident spread in the Haitian capital, supporters took to the streets clashing with police officers.