Haitian gang kidnaps Turkish group

PORT-AU-PRINCE: Eight Turkish citizens were kidnapped while travelling by bus in Haiti, the Turkish consul said yesterday, as the Caribbean country struggles with a surge of attacks by powerful gangs.

They were taken hostage on Sunday as they drove to the capital Port-au-Prince from the Dominican Republic, said consul Hugues Josue. The five men and three women are all aged between 20 and 26 and are members of Muslim association Ashape, which provides language courses and religious education.

The UN said that clashes between rival gangs in the capital have claimed the lives of at least 75 people since fresh violence erupted on April 24.