PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) 鈥 Haiti鈥檚 health minister has been removed from his post following a deadly gang attack on the largest public hospital in the capital, Port-au-Prince, government officials said Thursday.
According to two government officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the subject, Health Minister Duckenson Lorthe will be replaced by Justice Minister Patrick Pelissier until a new health minister is found.
Two journalists and a police officer were killed Tuesday as who were there to cover the facility's reopening. It was one of the worst attacks on Haitian media in recent memory. Seven other journalists were wounded.
Jean Feguens Regala, a photographer , said journalists had been invited to the hospital by the health ministry but there was little security at the site.
鈥淭he fact that the minister of health invited us, you feel that preparations have been made already,鈥 Regala told The Associated Press. 鈥淲hen we made contact with a police unit, the police told us they were not aware of the event."
The health minister did not show up at the event, for reasons that have not been explained.
Shortly after the attack, Johnson 鈥淚zo鈥 Andr茅 鈥 considered Haiti鈥檚 most powerful gang leader and part of the Viv Ansanm group of gangs that has taken control of much of Port-au-Prince 鈥 posted a video on social media claiming responsibility for the attack.
The video said the gang coalition had not authorized the hospital鈥檚 reopening.
Gang violence has worsened in Haiti, with crippling the country鈥檚 capital and plunging Haiti into an unprecedented crisis.
Gangs are believed to control 85% of Port-au-Prince.
The Caribbean country has struggled to organize an election that will restore democratic rule, and is currently governed by a transitional council made up of representatives of political parties, business groups and civil society organizations.
