US steps up bid to transform Kenya-led force in Haiti to a UN peacekeeping force

The United States has stepped up its campaign to transform the Kenya-led multinational force in Haiti into a U.N. peacekeeping force, spurred by escalating gang violence that shut all air traffic to the capital of Port-au-Prince this week.

The U.S. proposed a U.N. peacekeeping mission in early September as one way to secure regular funding for the U.N.-backed multinational force that is trying to help Haiti's national force control the gangs, which faces a serious funding crisis.

Since then, the gangs have intensified their attacks, with violence exploding last Sunday in the capital when Haiti's transitional council created to restore democratic order fired the interim prime minister amid political infighting. The gangs, now estimated by the U.N. to control 85% of the capital, shut down the country's main airport there on Monday after shooting a number of planes, wounding one flight attendant.