Port-au-Prince, Apr 07: Haitian police detained the former interior minister in the government of President Jean Bertrand Aristide on suspicion of involvement in the killings of opposition members in February, police said. Jocelerme Privert was detained at his home in the capital, Port-au-Prince, after at first resisting arrest and is now in prison, police spokesman commissioner Max Isaac said today.

Privert is wanted in connection with a series of killings of Aristide opponents in the town of Saint Marc in February. Gangs loyal to Aristide, who fled the country on February 29 amidst a mounting rebellion, are accused of carrying out the saint marc killings as part of a campaign of intimidation.

The spokesman said police staged a raid on Privert's home just after midnight.

Bureau Report