At least five die in gunfire at Haiti demo

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (Reuters) - At least five people were killed by gunfire during a political demonstration on Wednesday in Haiti, which is preparing for elections in the autumn to replace its interim government.

Police officers, many wearing black masks over their faces, fired at demonstrators during the march in the capital, Port-au-Prince. Renan Etienne, central director for Haiti's administrative police, said "bandits" had attacked a police patrol and that "the police returned fire."

"We know that two bandits were killed, but we can't call them demonstrators," Etienne said.

Five bodies lay on the street, some with gunshot wounds in the back, and at least three people were injured. No police were hurt, Etienne said.