HAITI - Préval calls for calm as death toll soars

Port-au-Prince (CMC):

Haitian authorities are bracing for further demonstrations despite an appeal by President René Préval for calm as the death toll from a cholera epidemic quickly soared past 1,000.

"Disorder and instability have never brought solutions to a country going through hard times," Préval said in a recorded message that denounced unnamed groups for taking advantage of the cholera epidemic where the first case has now surfaced in the neighbouring Dominican Republic.

"You must be even more watchful of those who exploit the country's misfortunes for their own benefit," Préval said, adding that "gunshots, throwing bottles, barricades of burning tires will not help us eradicate cholera bacteria. On the contrary, it will prevent the sick from receiving care and to deliver medicine where it is needed".

Haitians have accused the Nepalese contingent of the United Nations force, known as MINUSTAH, for the cause of the cholera, which surfaced here after a century.

MINUSTAH said it has tested some of the Nepalese and found no trace of cholera.