At least one person was killed and dozens injured as thousands of protesters took to the streets in Haiti yesterday over a corruption scandal and some marchers called for the resignation of President Jovenel Moise.

A report by Haiti’s Senate accused former government officials of embezzlement, abuse of authority and forgery involving the Venezuelan Petrocaribe oil loan programme during the 2008-2016 administrations of former presidents Rene Preval and Michel Martelly.
Moise, in a speech yesterday to mark the 1806 death of Haiti’s founder, Jean-Jacques Dessalines, pledged that a trial would be held to get to the bottom of missing Petrocaribe funds.

“Once you have stolen government funds, whether you are part of the government, of the opposition or of the population, you’ll have to face justice,” Moise said.

Opposition leaders have said they do not believe a fair trial is possible while Moise remains in power because of his ties to Martelly.

Protesters erected flaming barricades made of tires and piles of garbage, while shots rang out across the capital, Port-au-Prince. Police fired tear gas at some demonstrators, and in response, some hurled rocks back at them.

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