A demonstrator holds up a photo of well known Haitian journalist Jacques Roche, who was abducted and killed in July 2005, during a march against kidnapping in Port-au-Prince, last Wednesday. According to the United Nations police, 157 kidnappings have been reported this year in Haiti, an increase of 10 per cent from 2007, but below the 180 recorded in the first five months of 2006. - AP

PORT-AU-PRINCE (CMC):

Thousands of demonstrators took to the streets of Haiti's capital, Port-au-Prince, on Wednesday protesting an increase in kidnappings in the French-speaking Caribbean country.

The estimated 6,000 demonstrators called for the institution of the death penalty for kidnappers and blamed judicial authorities and the police for being soft on crime.

"Kill the kidnappers and arrest corrupt judges who release them in exchange for money!" a group shouted outside the Justice Palace. "There should be no prison for kidnappers."

Unreported events

Haitian and United Nations (UN) police said about 160 people have been kidnapped for ransom since the start of the year, compared to 237 for all of 2007. UN police spokesman Fred Blaise said Wednesday at least 36 people were kidnapped in May and that more were unreported.

Kareem Xavier Gaspard, 16, a banker's son, was among the protesters. His father was killed and dumped in an open-air market last month even though his parents paid abductors a ransom.

"Haiti has a grave sickness," said Stephen William Phelps, a friend of the slain man. "We all have a responsibility to stand up and say no."