PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti, Dec. 16 (UPI) -- Armed Haitian rebels have taken over the home of former President Jean-Bertrand Arisitide, Haitian radio reported Thursday.
The rebels -- once members of the Caribbean's nations army, which Aristide dissolved -- are reportedly using the presidential estate as a command center just outside the capital, Port-au-Prince.
Aristide's home had been abandoned since the ex-president left the country in February amid increasing pressure from the rebels, who were calling for his ouster while taking over the country by force.
Some 300 people have been killed in violence leading up to and following Aristide's departure.
Earler this week hundreds of U.N. peacekeepers in Haiti exchanged gunfire with Haitians in one of the capital's most notorious slums, Cite Soleil.
The multinational force -- led by Brazilian troops -- entered the highly volatile slum hoping to wrest control of the area from armed gunmen. U.N. officials said they would remain in Cite Soleil for the next two months and then hand control of the area over to Haitian police officers.
The slum is one of the known strongholds for Aristide supporters.
