President’s plea fails to quell riots

Haitian President Rene Preval issued a desperate appeal for order, but bands of looters sacked stores, warehouses and government offices in the capital, Port-au-Prince.

Gunfire was heard in wealthy hillside suburbs and in the starving slums below as 9,000 United Nations peacekeepers were unable to halt the theft and violence that have grown from protests over rising food prices.

Preval promised to press importers to lower food prices and appealed to the rioters to go home.

Gunfire sounded near the palace after his speech as peacekeepers tried to drive looters away from stores.