PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti, Dec. 17 (UPI) -- U.N. troops have surrounded the home of former Haitian President Jean-Bertrand Aristide, which is now occupied by rebel forces, Haitian radio reports.
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.
The U.N. forces however want the rebels to leave the home and appeared poised to storm the building.
Aristide's home had been abandoned since the ex-president left the country in February amid increasing pressure from rebels.
Some 300 people had been killed in violence leading up to and following Aristide's departure.
Earlier 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.
The slum is one of the known strongholds for Aristide supporters.
