U.N. Leader Makes First Trip to Haiti

U.N. Leader Makes First Trip to Haiti

By MYRNA DOMIT
The Associated Press
Thursday, August 3, 2006; 9:22 PM

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti -- U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan, making his first trip
to Haiti, called Thursday for strengthening the national police force to stem an
upsurge in kidnapping and lawlessness.

Annan, who was embraced by President Rene Preval at the airport, said the challenges
facing the troubled Caribbean country remained vast, but "great strides" had been made
in recent months.

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Annan said the U.N Security Council should extend the current security operation, led
by a U.N.-led Brazilian peacekeeping force, for another 12 months instead of the standard
six months.

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Haiti experienced relative calm after Preval's February election victory but since May,
dozens of foreigners and Haitians have been kidnapped and gang fighting has forced
hundreds of people to flee their homes in the capital, Port-au-Prince.

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