Situation still tense after violence raids

LES CAYES, Haiti, April 7 (UPI) -- U.N. officials say tensions remain high after violence over rising food prices and the cost of living in Haiti, stoking fears of further unrest.

The U.N. peacekeeping mission in Haiti says the situation in the country's Southwestern town of Les Cayes remains vulnerable to instability after a surge in violence that resulted in an attack on the U.N. office in the region. Officials say demonstrations against the growing inflation of food prices and the cost of living the Haiti resulted in a small group turning to violence and breaking into the U.N. compound, damaging the main entry gate and raiding two containers, the United Nations reported.

U.N. officials at the compound say they fired warning shots that were largely ignored when the raid on the compound occurred. No U.N. employees were hurt during the incident, but protesters "burned local shops, threw rocks and fired weapons at some of the blue helmets during the night," the release said.

About 100 extra peacekeepers were dispatched to the region in an attempt to bring the situation under control, but officials say tensions remain high in Les Cayes.