GONAIVES, Feb 7: Police streamed into this rebel-held city in Haiti on Saturday to try to pry it out of the hands of rebels demanding the resignation of embattled President Jean-Bertrand Aristide.

Police in about a dozen all-terrain vehicles started rumbling into Haiti's fourth-largest city, in the north of the impoverished Caribbean republic, "to protect the civilian population", Haiti's Communications Minister Mario Dupuy said, warning: "Those who are responsible will be punished."

Rebels attacked the main police station in Gonaives on Thursday, in a battle that left at least 11 dead, according to the Haitian Red Cross.

It was the most serious challenge yet to Mr Aristide, who has faced a steadily mounting opposition campaign demanding that he leave office.-AFP