Originally published Thursday, July 14, 2011 at 3:06 PM

UN mission in Haiti deploys troops in slums

A United Nations spokeswoman says the world body's peacekeeping mission in Haiti has deployed troops to several slums in Port-au-Prince to crack down on gangs and criminals.

The Associated Press

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PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti —

A United Nations spokeswoman says the world body's peacekeeping mission in Haiti has deployed troops to several slums in Port-au-Prince to crack down on gangs and criminals.

Barbara Mertz of the U.N. peacekeeping mission in Haiti says "Operation Phoenix" will use more than 2,100 soldiers to catch criminals in Cite Soleil, Bel-Air and Martissant. All three slums are longtime havens for gang activity.

The operation announced Thursday is being supported by U.N. police and Haiti's National Police. It is intended to last for several days.

Once the U.N. force secures the three neighborhoods, the troops plan to clear the streets of debris and garbage, set up health care clinics, and repair roads.