Haitian crime lord tells prime minister to quit or face 'hell' of civil war

The crime lord behind a six-day gang mutiny against Haiti's prime minister, Ariel Henry, has claimed the Caribbean country could be plunged into civil war unless its temporarily exiled leader steps down.

- Tom Phillips

Wearing an olive green tactical vest and flanked by armed foot soldiers in balaclavas, the gang boss Jimmy Chérizier told reporters his country was staring into the abyss. "Either Haiti becomes a paradise or a hell for all of us," declared Chérizier, a police officer turned gang leader whose nom de guerre is Barbecue.

"If Ariel Henry doesn't resign, if the international community continues to support him, we'll be heading straight for a civil war that will lead to genocide," added Chérizier in his second public pronouncement since a coalition of gangs began their deadly offensive last Thursday.

Over the past six days thousands of inmates have been released from prisons stormed by gang fighters who have also laid siege to strategic locations in the capital, Port-auPrince, including two airports, police stations and a port. Nearly all flights in and out of the main international airport have been cancelled.