Haitians have taken to the streets of Port-au-Prince calling for the resignation of president Michel Martelly and fresh elections amid growing political anger in the Caribbean nation. <br /><br />An estimated 5,000 people marched through the centre of the capital to protest against what they claim is a lack of action by authorities to alleviate hunger and tackle a cholera epidemic. <br /><br />Despite starting off peacefully, the protest quickly escalated with riot police firing tear gas to disperse the crowd as protesters burned tyres and blocked streets. <br /><br />Anti-government protests in Haiti have become increasingly common in recent months as discontent grows over perceived government corruption and a lack of change in the impoverished country since a catastrophic earthquake in 2010 which left tens of thousands dead.<br /><br />President Martelly, who is midway through a six-year term, has accused his opponents of fomenting instability and blocking legislation that would help the country.<br /><br />Earlier this year, Martelly appointed a nine-member council tasked with organising municipal and legislative elections this year that were supposed to be held more than two years ago.
