Haitian man killed during human stampede

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti, April 21 (UPI) -- A Haitian man was killed Wednesday during a stampede of thousands applying for positions with the national police department.

An official said the man was trampled by 15,000 people who turned up at the police academy during a recruitment drive.

Many of Haiti's policemen abandoned their posts in February when armed insurgents began taking over the country with the intention of forcing then-President Jean-Bertrand Aristide from power.

Aristide left Haiti on Feb. 29 amid discontent with his administration, both at home and abroad. He maintains however he was duped into doing so by U.S. officials in Port-au-Prince. Washington denies the allegation.