(Reuters) -Heavy gunfire was seen on Friday near Haiti's national palace in its capital of Port-au-Prince, according to reports by news agency EFE, in the midst of political turmoil sparked by Prime Minister Ariel Henry's absence.
Haiti entered a state of emergency last Sunday after fighting escalated, armed gangs broke inmates out of prison , and an estimated over ten thousand people were displaced while Henry was in Kenya seeking a deal for an international force to fight Haiti's gangs.
The United States earlier this week called on Haiti's prime minister to expedite a political transition as armed gangs seek his ouster.
Henry, Haiti's unelected interim leader, landed in the U.S. territory of Puerto Rico on Tuesday.
(Reporting by Sarah Morland; Editing by Brendan O'Boyle)
