Haiti: Food protests persist

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti, April 8 (UPI) -- Protesters attempted Tuesday to storm the presidential palace in Haiti's capital amid outcries against rising food prices, Haitian radio reported.

U.N. troops fought back the angry crowd gathered outside the residence of President Rene Preval in Port-au-Prince firing rubber bullets at protesters.

At least five people have been killed in the protests that started in southern Haiti last week and spread northward to the capital.

The protesters were decrying the rising cost of food in the poor Caribbean nation and calling for Preval to step down.