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Slain Haitian president’s hometown holds funeral amid violence
Shots erupted outside the ceremony for Jovenel Moise as hundreds of protesters clashed with police.
International
The body of slain Haitian President Jovenel Moise was returned to his hometown Friday for a private funeral amid heavy security following violent protests and fears of political volatility in the Caribbean nation.
His wife, Martine Moise, arrived at her husband’s service in Cap-Haitien to cries of “Justice! Justice!” as she headed straight to his casket, climbing the stairs and stopping in front of it. Her right arm in a sling from wounds she suffered during the assassination, she lay her left arm on the casket and then brought it to her heart as she stood there in silence. Her eyes filled with tears as her three children joined her.
Minutes later, a group of supporters grabbed a large portrait of Moise and paraded with it as the police band began to play the national anthem over loud wails.
As the ceremony began, hundreds of protesters clashed with police outside the private residence. Shots erupted and tear gas and black smoke wafted into the ceremony. Protesters’ cries carried over religious leaders speaking at the funeral.
United States Ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield, who led the US presidential delegation to Moise’s funeral, tweeted “We urge everyone to express themselves peacefully and refrain from violence.”