The US State Department has announced a charter flight for its citizens stranded in Haiti, as gang violence and hunger grip the impoverished country.

Police in the capital Port-au-Prince are trying to recapture areas held by notorious gang leader Jimmy Chérizier.

Chérizier, known as “Barbecue”, has a stronghold in the Delmas neighbourhood and police are trying to arrest him.

On Saturday police spokesman Lionel Lazarre said several “bandits” had been killed in the operation.