Brazilian officer held hostage in Haiti

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti, May 19 (UPI) — A Haitian gang took a Brazilian colonel hostage but released him after two hours, O Globo reported Friday.

The colonel — who only gave his last name, Odair — was taken hostage Thursday by armed gunmen who threatened to kill him if their leader, known as Commander Evans, was not freed in return.

It is not known whether Evans was released or was ever in the custody of U.N. peacekeepers.

Brazilian forces lead the 2-year mission in Haiti that arrived on the Caribbean island shortly after the departure of former President Jean-Bertrand Aristide, who left the country in February 2004 under pressure from armed rebel groups.

Many of the country’s armed gunmen remain loyal Aristide supporters.

Earlier this year, Haitians went to the polls and elected a new president, Rene Preval, who assumed office this month.