The United Nations acknowledged Thursday its troops likely opened fire on a car full of Haitian police officers this week, wounding two.A preliminary investigation found five uniformed officers were driving toward a UN checkpoint Monday when the troops opened fire, said UN spokesman Damian Onses-Cardona. He showed photographs of the blue car, which had official licence plates but no other markings. Troops may have confused the police with armed gang members whom they are fighting to gain control of the seaside slum Cite Soleil, Onses-Cardona said.
| Easy mistake to make. |
One of the two wounded Haitian police officers remained in hospital in stable condition Thursday.
"Even though this incident is appalling, the tight collaboration between UN peacekeepers and Haitian police will continue," Onses-Cardona said. The two forces currently are studying a joint plan to combat kidnappings, which have surged in areas near Cite Soleil, he said.