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Added on the 03/03/2010 12:24:25 - Copyright : Le Républicain Lorrain
The United States voices hope that a transitional body to lead Haiti, set up at a crisis meeting a week ago, could be ready "as soon as today." SOUNDBITE
The European Union says it has allocated 20 million euros ($21.8 million) worth of humanitarian aid to Haiti after gang violence plunged the Caribbean country into renewed chaos. "An unprecedented level of gang violence is dramatically increasing humanitarian needs across the country. The funding will help humanitarian partners to address the most urgent needs of the population," says European Commission spokesman Balazs Ujvari. SOUNDBITE
The United States plays down Kenya's announcement it was putting on hold a police mission to Haiti, saying a transition deal will bring a new government as sought by Nairobi. "I would be concerned of course about any delay, but we don't think that there will need to be a delay," State Department spokesman Matthew Miller tells reporters. SOUNDBITE
Guyana's leader, who heads the Caribbean bloc CARICOM, voices optimism at an emergency summit on finding a political solution in crisis-torn Haiti. "I'm very optimistic based on all the discussions today," President Irfaan Ali says. SOUNDBITE
While tension and violence caused by criminal gangs persist in Haiti's capital, in the border province of Dajabon, in the Dominican Republic, commercial exchange continues as normal. Haiti, the poorest country in the Western hemisphere, has been in turmoil for years with armed gangs taking over parts of the country and unleashing brutal violence that has left its economy and public health system in tatters. IMAGES
The White House says the US is "definitely not pushing" the Haitian Prime Minister Ariel Henry to resign, after Washington said he should speed up a political transition. "That is not what we're doing, but we have underscored that now is the time to finalize a political court to help set Haiti on a path to a better future. And that is something that we've been working on for some time," White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre says in a press briefing. SOUNDBITE