Port-au-Prince, November 23, 2004; AHP)- The National Justice and Peace Commission of the Catholic Church denounced on Tuesday the climate of violence gripping the Haitian capital.

The coordinator of Justice and Peace, Father Jean Hansens, urged the interim authorities to take steps to re-establish peace in Port-au-Prince. 

Father Hansens observed that young people continue to be the victims of these acts of violence, though at the same time, number of young people are also the perpetrators.

In its latest report, the Justice and Peace Commission said it has documented more than 60 cases of young people killed through acts of violence during September and October.

Jean Hansens also criticized the policy of the interim government, which resorts to violence and repression to combat insecurity.

He stated that other measures should be taken to put an end to acts of violence in the country.

The Justice and Peace Commission recommended that the authorities conduct in-depth investigations to shed light on a series of crimes committed in the country against police officers and residents of the densely populated Bel-Air and Fort National districts in order to manage to stop the violence.