Haitians mark anniversary of 2004 US-sponsored coup

Thousands of people have taken to the streets of Haiti’s capital to mark the anniversary of a US-backed military coup that toppled their elected president over a decade ago.

The protesters gathered in front of the parliament in Port-au-Prince on Monday and denounced the US interference that forced former President Jean-Bertrand Aristide into exile in 2004 before he finishes his second term.

Aristide described his departure as kidnapping and accused Washington of being behind the coup against his government. He left Haiti on an American plane accompanied by US military personnel.

The protesters also called for an independent review of the first round of the presidential elections last October that were marred by reports of vote rigging.

Haiti is currently being led by interim President Jocelerme Privert after President Michel Martelly stepped down after five years in office last month with no successor.

Under an agreement that was reached just 22 hours before the president quit office, the interim president will stay for a term of 120 days.

The elections, which were postponed twice, are scheduled to be held on April 24. A newly elected president is to be installed on May 14.

The run-off elections to choose the next president were cancelled twice when opposition candidate Jude Celestin threatened to boycott the vote, claiming that the October 2015 round was rigged in favor of the ruling party candidate, Jovenel Moise.

The vote fraud allegations has sparked numerous anti-government protests in the Caribbean nation in recent months.

EA