Demonstrators scattered as tear gas canisters fell, and shots rang out in the crowd. There were reports of at least two people injured and 30 arrests.

Civic groups planned the demonstration to urge social change. But more than 8,000 Aristide partisans corralled the protesters into a small section of gritty Port-au-Prince.

Police separated the groups and fired tear gas when some protesters lobbed rocks at each other.

"We want a change and we want a better tomorrow, but we also want to keep Aristide," said Jean Robert, 36, waving a picture of Haiti's embattled leader.

Tension has grown as Aristide struggles to break an impasse with an opposition coalition that is refusing to participate in elections unless he steps down.

Countries including the United States are refusing aid to Haiti's government until the president holds legislative elections to repair flawed balloting in a May 2000 vote.

Before the demonstration began, dozens of the protest leaders were arrested on weapons charges when police stopped a trailer carrying a stage for the protest.

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