Haiti senator opens fire outside parliament, wounding two Published duration 24 September 2019

image copyright Reuters image caption Senator Jean Marie Ralph Féthière is seen on the right seconds after opening fire

A Haitian senator opened fire during a protest outside the country's parliament building, wounding two people including a photographer.

Chery Dieu-Nalio, a photographer for the Associated Press, was hit in the face. Leon Leblanc, a security guard, was also wounded in the incident.

Senator Jean Marie Ralph Féthière opened fire as he left parliament in the capital, Port-au-Prince.

He claimed he was defending himself from protesters.

Mr Dieu-Nalio, who was wearing body armour clearly marked with the word "Press", was struck on the chin. Reports said he was treated in hospital but his injuries were not severe. Mr Leblanc's condition was not immediately known.

image copyright Reuters image caption Mr Féthière fired the shots as he attempted to leave parliament

Mr Féthière, a senator from the north, told local media he had attempted to defend himself after "armed individuals threatened me".

"I was attacked by violent militant groups, so I defended myself," he told Haiti's Radio Mega, adding: "Self-defence is a sacred right."

Another senator, Patrice Dumont, told local media that Mr Féthière issued a warning before opening fire.

image copyright Reuters image caption Photojournalist Chery Dieu Nalio holds a healing gauze next to his mouth

Protesters had gathered outside the building as the Haitian senate met to confirm Fritz-William Michel as the new prime minister.

Crippling fuel shortages have triggered weeks of anti-government protests, plunging the country into an economic and political crisis.

Soaring inflation and allegations of government corruption have compounded Haiti's woes, leading to calls for Jovenel Moïse, president since 2017, to stand down.

media caption Why are there so many protests in Haiti?

Earlier this year, Mr Moïse rejected calls for his resignation, saying he would not leave the country in the "hands of armed gangs and drug traffickers".

This week, Mr Moïse postponed a planned trip to the UN General Assembly in New York until a new prime minister had been approved by parliament.

All pictures copyright.