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Haitian Gangster Ready to Surrender
 One of Haiti's most powerful gang leaders said he would be willing to surrender if U.N. peacekeepers guarantee his safety. Armed gang members controlled by the man known as General Toutou are believed to be behind many of the kidnappings and killings that have added to the instability in Haiti as the country prepares for fall elections to replace the interim government. Toutou, in an interview Friday with The Associated Press, said he has begun talks on a possible surrender with the U.N. peacekeeping mission that came to Haiti to restore order following the ouster of the country's first freely elected leader, President Jean-Bertrand Aristide, in February 2004. "If the (U.N. mission) is ready to guarantee our security, we'd be ready to give up the fight," said Toutou, whose real name is unknown.A U.N. official declined to discuss any possible deal to guarantee the Toutou's safety, but said the peacekeeping mission was negotiating with gangs in Bel-Air, the sprawling slum where the gang leader commands a well-armed force of street fighters. "A window of opportunity is opening for us to reduce violence ahead of the elections," said Desmond Molloy, head of the U.N. disarmament program in Haiti. Posted by: Fred 2005-08-14 |
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