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Thousands protest near Haitian capital against UN presence

Thousands protest near Haitian capital against UN presenceThousands of Haitians protested on Friday in the streets of a Port-au-Prince district demanding the withdrawal of United Nations forces.
The demonstration, in the huge Cite Soleil shantytown, one of the most dangerous districts of the capital, was peaceful. The UN has a base there but does not control the neighbourhood, which is run by armed gangs.
The protest follows a violent student demonstration on Tuesday against the UN forces.
Dozens of demonstrators, some shouting "Down with the UN," threw stones, broke UN vehicles' windshields, and burned a US flag near Haiti's presidential palace.
Since mid-2004 the UN has maintained more than 7,000 troops and 1,200 police in Haiti to help stabilise the poorest country in the Americas.

Copyright AFP (Agence France-Presse), 2006