U.S. general: Haitian violence must end

PORT-AU-PRINCE, March 14 (UPI) -- U.S. Gen. Richard Myers said Sunday in Haiti violence will not be tolerated and that time is needed to restore stability to the island nation.

Myers said it was not the duty of the peacekeepers to take sides and U.S. troops would fire only when fired upon, the BBC said. Myers is chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff.

Some 1,000 U.S. Marines have been dispatched to Haiti's capital, Port-au-Prince, as part of an international peacekeeping mission in the aftermath of the departure of President Jean-Bertrand Aristide.

Aristide left after several weeks of fighting by rebels, who had gained control of much of Haiti.

Aristide is in exile in the Central African Republic.