August 30, 2005
Venezuela offers Haiti assistance

(UPI) - "Venezuela is offering to assist Haiti with its economic development, energy needs and education, a U.N. official in the Caribbean nation said.

The head of the U.N. mission in Haiti, Juan Gabriel Valdés, said the offer was made during a recent meeting of regional foreign ministers.

Other nations at the meeting whose attendees are known as the Rio Group, also pledged their continued support.

Brazil is currently leading the U.N. peacekeeping mission in Haiti that kicked off in May 2004.

Earlier that year, armed rebels began taking over the country calling for the resignation of then-President Jean-Bertrand Aristide, who left the country in February 2004.

Since then, hundreds of people have been killed in clashes between U.N. troops and Aristide supporters".