PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti, Sept 24 (Reuters) - At least two police officers and five civilians were shot when Haitian police clashed with supporters of a dead gang leader in the western city of Gonaives on Wednesday, local media reported. The violence occurred when hundreds of demonstrators gathered to call for the resignation of President Jean-Bertrand Aristide and to voice support for Amiot Metayer, the gang leader who was found shot to death on Sunday. The protesters included members of Metayer's gang, the "Cannibal Army." The pro-Aristide gang, whose leader was imprisoned for leading attacks on government critics, suddenly turned against Aristide when Metayer's brother, Butter Metayer, suggested the Haitian president was behind the killing. Amiot Metayer was a key focus of attempts to break a long political stalemate in Haiti. He escaped from a Gonaives prison in August 2002 with more than 150 other inmates when supporters used a bulldozer to break through the prison wall. After his escape, Metayer appeared frequently in public in Gonaives and led demonstrations. The Organization of American States, trying to broker a settlement in a political deadlock resulting from tainted May 2000 elections, urged the government to rearrest Metayer to help win back international support. The government said it would rearrest him but was taking its time to avoid bloodshed. Aristide's failure to make the arrest fueled tensions between the government and the opposition in the impoverished Caribbean nation. Butter Metayer said on radio on Wednesday he believed the prime suspect in his brother's killing should be Odonel Paul, who works in the National Palace press office and was a friend of Amiot Metayer. "We know that Odonel Paul works for President Aristide," Butter Metayer said on Radio Metropole. "That's why we call for Aristide's departure." National Police Chief Jocelyne Pierre said, "It's premature to say if Paul is the number one suspect. But of course the police are looking for him."

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