Taking back the streets of Port-Au-Prince

Like Jamaica below, Haiti has serious problems with crime and drug-related gang violence. Haiti is the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere and has had a turbulent political past. For years gangs have been powerful political players, sometimes working alongside corrupt politicians. In a horrific show of violence at the end of last year, gang members went on a kidnapping spree, specifically targeting women and young children. In response, Hatian President René Préval has launched a campaign to rid the streets of gang violence with the support of United Nations peacekeeping forces. For article and slide show go to http://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/10/world/americas/10haiti.html?ex=1175140800&en=727fc04be6fef452&ei=5070