Gunmen in Haiti Kill 3 In Attack on a Church

Gunmen burst into the church of a radical Roman Catholic priest during Mass today, shot and killed at least three parishioners, wounded 60 and and burned the building down, Radio Haiti-Inter reported.

A foreign journalist attending the Mass telephoned The Associated Press in New York and said the Rev. Jean-Bertrand Aristide had just begun 9 A.M. Mass when a group of men began throwing rocks at the church, panicking 600 to 800 parishioners, who rushed for the doors. ''Suddenly the doors at the back of the church burst open and 20 to 30 men with machetes, huge sticks and guns came in,'' said the journalist, who spoke on condition of anonymity. ''They started shooting people, beating them, and stabbing and slashing them.''

The journalist said at least five parishioners were wounded by bullets or stabbed and at least three were killed. The reporter said parishioners surrounded and protected Father Aristide, who was not injured.
The priest heads the Catholic Church's radical wing, which opposes military rule. There have been several attempts on his life by people widely believed to be connected to elements in the army loyal to the deposed Duvalier dictatorship.

Source: New York Times