U.S. DEFENDS ITS EFFORTS TO FIGHT DRUG TRADE IN HAITI

Haiti -- The United States on Wednesday defended its anti-drug efforts
in Haiti, two days after the nation's president accused America and
other major drug-consuming countries of failing to adequately fight
the narcotics trade.

In a strongly worded speech to Parliament on Monday, President Rene
Preval called drug trafficking the main cause of instability in his
impoverished nation and said failed efforts by the United States and
other countries to stop the trade had made Haiti a victim.

U.S. Embassy spokeswoman Shaila B. Manyam said Wednesday that the
United States has undertaken measures to defend Haiti against drug
trafficking, including strengthening its weak justice system and
training its coast guard.

The United States has contributed more than $40 million to Haiti's
national police since 2004, Manyam said.

"The United States shares Haiti's concern about drug trafficking,"
Manyam said. "Our two countries have a long history of cooperation on
combating this scourge, and that cooperation will continue."

Drug traffickers have long taken advantage of Haiti's weak defenses
and vulnerable coastline to smuggle in cocaine bound for the United
States, Canada and Europe.

Manyam said Preval's comments "indicate the government of Haiti shares
our strong commitment to deal with the threats to stability and
security posed by drug trafficking."

Preval's cash-strapped government has struggled to contain gang
violence sparked by a bloody 2004 revolt that ousted former President
Jean-Bertrand Aristide, Haiti's first democratically elected leader.

Ransom-seeking gangs have kidnapped dozens of people in recent weeks,
prompting criticism that police and an 8,800-strong U.N. peacekeeping
force are not doing enough to fight crime.

U.N. troops and police have stepped up patrols in recent days and
arrested two suspected kidnappers.