Supporters of exiled Haitian president rally for his return

At least three people, including two police officers, were injured on Tuesday when clashes broke out during a protest by 500 supporters of exiled president Jean Bertrand Aristide, police said.

Violence erupted when former soldiers, armed with assault rifles and hand guns, tried to block the demonstration in downtown Port-au-Prince. Eight of them were arrested by the UN-led multinational force and handed over to Haitian police.

Meanwhile, thousands of demonstrators called for the return of Aristide on Tuesday during a Flag Day rally that turned violent when riot police fired warning shots. At least one man was killed.

The demonstrators marched from the pro-Aristide stronghold of Belair toward the National Palace, blocks away from a cathedral where interim President Boniface Alexandre was attending Mass.

As the protesters neared the cathedral, riot police fired tear gas and then warning shots to disperse the crowd, which pelted government vehicles with rocks.

Demonstrator Titus Simpton, 23, was shot and killed. It was unclear who fired the fatal shot, and police did not comment.