Gunman linked to attack on Martelly

Port-au-Prince – Haitian authorities were on Tuesday searching for a man allegedly involved in an attack on President Michel Martelly in the northern second city Cap-Haitien, after 30 people were arrested in the incident, police said.

“We are looking for a man with an army rifle, who was in the crowd when people started throwing stones and bottles at Martelly’s entourage as they entered the city,” local police chief Joanet Caneus told reporters about the incident, which happened on Sunday.

“This person is being actively sought by the police, and we invite the public to provide all necessary information,” added Caneus in a telephone interview.

The president’s office, who sought to downplay the event, said it did not prevent Martelly from continuing his tour of the north of the country.

Martelly said on Monday that he had “nearly died twice” during the incident, saying a bottle had landed near him and that he had heard gun shots.

Martelly, who assumed office in May, has the daunting task of rebuilding Haiti after a devastating earthquake in January 2010 that killed more than 225 000 people and left more than a million homeless. – Sapa-AFP