Inmates have escaped in a major prison break in Haiti as anti-government protests grip the country, according to the country’s national police force.

All 78 detainees at the prison in Aquin, a city in southern Haiti, managed to escape at about midday local time yesterday, a spokesman for the national police said.

The incident comes in a week of protests against President Jovenel Moise, with thousands of demonstrators taking to the streets demanding that he resigns. The protests began after a court report alleging that government officials had misappropriated development loans made to Haiti, which is the poorest country in the Caribbean.

The prison break is thought to have taken place during an anti-government protest outside the prison and its adjoining station. Demonstrations were also… </s> In Haiti, at least six people have died in nearly week-long protests demanding that President Jovenel Moise resign. The police have revealed that all 78 detainees at the prison in Aquin, a city on the Tiburon Peninsula, escaped around midday yesterday.

Witnesses said the prison break took place during an anti-Moise demonstration in front of the police station adjoining the penitentiary. Demonstrators are demanding Moise quit over a scandal centring on the Petrocaribe fund, under which Venezuela supplied Haiti and the other Caribbean and Central American countries with oil at cut-rate prices and on easy credit terms for years.

Investigations have shown that nearly 2 billion US dollars from the program were misused </s> Dozens of inmates broke out of a northern Haitian prison on Saturday after killing a guard and stealing firearms, authorities said, as they launched a manhunt with support from United Nations peacekeepers for the 174 fugitives.

Haiti’s Minister Of Justice, Camille Edouard Junior, said one prisoner died after falling off a wall and hitting his head during the escape from the Arcahaie prison in northern Haiti.

“One policeman was killed killing the incident,” the Minister told Reuters. “Three prisoner were wounded, including one who died as a consequence of his wounds.” </s> Image copyright Getty Images Image caption The prisoners reportedly made their escape while police were distracted by anti-government protests nearby

All 78 inmates of a prison in southern Haiti have escaped from captivity, according to the country's police.

The detainees reportedly made their escape from Aquin prison while police were distracted by anti-government protests nearby

Haiti's national police force said it has launched an investigation into the incident.

It comes after days of demonstrations against President Jovenel Moise, which have left at least four people dead.

Speaking with Haiti newspaper Le Nouvelliste, Chief Inspector Ralph Stanley Brice said the prisoners had initially left their cells for a scheduled shower.

They later refused to return to their cells, and took advantage while police were distracted by a demonstration by protesters outside the prison and its adjoining police station.

Image copyright AFP Image caption Haiti has been rocked by six days of protests following allegations of corruption against President Jovenel Moise

Mr Brice added that barricades made by protesters had blocked police reinforcements sent from Les Cayes, a town nearly 34 miles (55km) away.

The island nation has witnessed six days of protests after a court report alleged that officials and former ministers had misappropriated development loans made by Venezuela to Haiti after 2008.

The report also suggested that President Moise had been involved in irregularities.

Mr Moise - who has been in power since 2017 - has called for talks with the opposition, with no success so far.

Haiti is the poorest country in the Caribbean and 60% of the population live on less than $2 (£1.53) a day. </s> All 78 detainees at a prison in Haiti escaped during a demonstration against President Jovenel Moise that was part of an increasingly violent nationwide movement.

Witnesses said the anti-Moise protest was taking place on Tuesday in front of the police station adjoining the penitentiary in Aquin, a town of around 100,000 on the south coast of the country's Tiburon Peninsula.

The former French colony is in the grip of a growing political crisis which has seen citizens take to the streets of the capital Port-au-Prince and elsewhere over the last week to demand Moise's resignation.

Barricades have sprung up in some areas of the capital and other cities, with protesters demanding the president answer reports of mismanagement and possible embezzlement of development funds in the impoverished Caribbean nation.

Prison conditions in Haiti are considered to be among the most inhumane in the world by human rights groups. Detainees face extremely crowded conditions, poor hygiene, food shortages and a lack of health care.

The justice system is notoriously slow and has been blamed for contributing to the crisis.

In October, an investigation found that three quarters of the 11,839 people imprisoned in Haiti were still waiting for a court ruling - a delay that has sometimes stretched beyond a decade. </s> ARCAHAIE, Haiti (Reuters) - Most inmates of a northern Haitian prison escaped on Saturday after killing a guard and stealing firearms, said authorities who launched a manhunt with support from U.N. peacekeepers for the 174 fugitives.

Police set up checkpoints on roads leading from the prison and detained several people without identity cards, a Reuters witness said. However, the 266 inmates of Arcahaie prison do not wear uniforms, making it easier for escapees to mingle outside.

Eleven inmates were caught during the break, which happened during a period when some were bathing, officials said. The inmates broke into an area used by the guards, stealing at least five rifles among other weapons. One guard was shot dead.

Haiti’s Minister Of Justice, Camille Edouard Junior, said one prisoner died after falling off a wall and hitting his head during the escape from the Arcahaie prison on the coast north of capital Port-au-Prince.

“One guard was killed during the incident,” Edouard Junior told Reuters. “Three prisoner were wounded, including one who died as a consequence of his wounds.”

In the aftermath of the escape, the guard’s bloodied body lay at the prison and discarded sandals were scattered on the ground.

The U.S. embassy in Haiti issued a security message about “a violent prison break in Arcahaie,” and advised its citizens to avoid the area. </s> ARCAHAIE, Haiti (AP) — More than 100 mostly barefoot inmates overpowered guards on Saturday and escaped from a lockup in central Haiti, officials said.

Judge Henry Claude Louis-Jean said the prison break occurred in Arcahaie, a coastal town about 30 miles north of Haiti’s capital. One guard was reported killed and others were injured.

The escapees stole an unknown number of weapons and some exchanged gunfire with police during the chaotic breakout.

The inmates attacked after they were released from a crammed holding pen to bathe, according to provincial authorities.

Haitian prisons are notoriously overcrowded and many inmates spend years in pre-trial detention. It wasn’t immediately clear how many of the escaped inmates in Arcahaie were convicted of serious crimes and how many were awaiting trial.

Police asked jittery residents of the coastal area to follow authorities’ instructions as a manhunt intensified. It wasn’t clear if any of the inmates had been recaptured by Saturday evening.

The U.S. Embassy advised all American citizens to avoid the area due to the escape. </s> Police officers were searching cars and boats for escaped prisoners on Sunday after recapturing at least a dozen of the 174 inmates who overpowered guards and escaped from a lockup in central Haiti, the prison’s director said.

The prison break occurred Saturday in Arcahaie, a coastal town about 30 miles north of Haiti’s capital.

The community is far from the southwest area that was slammed by Hurricane Matthew’s eye earlier this month.

One guard was reported killed and others were injured. An inmate reportedly died following a bad fall while trying to scale a prison wall.

The Associated Press said Haitian National Police officers set up numerous checkpoints along roads to search vehicles. Small boats in fishing towns around Arcahaie were also being checked.

Heurtelou Paul Colson, director of the Arcahaie Prison, said the lockup housed 266 inmates.

Justice Minister Camille Edward Junior told Haiti’s biggest newspaper, The Nouvelliste, that the alleged mastermind of the escape, convicted kidnapper Yvener Carelus, was among the men captured after the prison break.

“He planned the escape from the inside with a few accomplices,” the minister was quoted as saying.

Prime Minister Enex Jean-Charles said the interim government has given clear instructions to the justice minister to “take all necessary measures to remedy this unacceptable situation.”

Judge Henry Claude Louis-Jean said Saturday that the escapees stole an unknown number of weapons and some exchanged gunfire with police during the chaotic breakout.

The inmates attacked after they were released from a crammed holding pen to bathe, according to provincial authorities.

After the escape, the body of the dead corrections officer was sprawled on the ground and bullet holes marked the prison’s main door. Inside, the wrought iron cell doors had been thrown open and sandals and clothing were scattered about. Authorities held a prisoner who tried to flee.

Haitian prisons are notoriously overcrowded and many inmates spend years in pre-trial detention. It wasn’t immediately clear how many of the escaped inmates in Arcahaie were convicted of serious crimes and how many were awaiting trial.

Police asked jittery residents of the coastal area to follow authorities’ instructions during the manhunt.

The U.S. Embassy advised all American citizens to avoid the area. </s> ARCAHAIE, Haiti (AP) — Police officers were searching cars and boats for escaped prisoners on Sunday after recapturing at least a dozen of the 172 inmates who overpowered guards and escaped from a lockup in central Haiti, the prison’s director said.

The prison break occurred Saturday in Arcahaie, a coastal town about 30 miles north of Haiti’s capital. The community is far from the southwest area that was slammed by Hurricane Matthew’s eye earlier this month.

One guard was reported killed and others were injured. An inmate reportedly died following a bad fall while trying to scale a prison wall.

Haitian National Police officers set up numerous checkpoints along roads to search vehicles. Small boats in fishing towns around Arcahaie were also being checked.

Heurtelou Paul Colson, director of the Arcahaie Prison, said the lockup housed 266 inmates.

Justice Minister Camille Edward Junior told Haiti’s biggest newspaper, The Nouvelliste, that the alleged mastermind of the escape, convicted kidnapper Yvener Carelus, was among the men captured after the prison break.

“He planned the escape from the inside with a few accomplices,” the minister was quoted as saying.

Prime Minister Enex Jean-Charles said the interim government has given clear instructions to the justice minister to “take all necessary measures to remedy this unacceptable situation.”

Judge Henry Claude Louis-Jean said Saturday that the escapees stole an unknown number of weapons and some exchanged gunfire with police during the chaotic breakout.

The inmates attacked after they were released from a crammed holding pen to bathe, according to provincial authorities.

Haitian prisons are notoriously overcrowded and many inmates spend years in pre-trial detention. It wasn’t immediately clear how many of the escaped inmates in Arcahaie were convicted of serious crimes and how many were awaiting trial.

Police asked jittery residents of the coastal area to follow authorities’ instructions during the manhunt.

The U.S. Embassy advised all American citizens to avoid the area.

Associated Press photographer Dieu Nalio Chery reported from Arcahaie. AP writer David McFadden contributed from Port-au-Prince.
All 78 inmates escape from a prison in Aquin, Haiti, amid ongoing unrest in the country that has left four people dead.