Police officers exchanged gunfire on Sunday with soldiers outside the national palace, in a dangerous escalation of protests over police pay and working conditions.
A uniformed police officer told reporters that officers were demanding the reinstatement of their fired colleagues as well as a pay raise for all officers.
“Until this is done we will not sit and talk,” said the officer, who declined to provide his name. “The president has proven that he does not care about our demands.”
President Jovenel Moise said Saturday that he recognized the legitimacy of many police complaints and would increase some collateral benefits for officers, but police said that the concessions were not enough.
At least two officers were killed and several people wounded, fellow officers told local Radio.
The newly reconstituted army high command said in an online statement that a soldier had been wounded by a bullet in the back.
Video courtesy VOA