DOZENS of protesters marched up the hills of Haiti’s capital on Sunday demanding an end to persistent gang violence as they called on the country’s prime minister and transitional presidential council to resign.

It’s the latest protest to reflect growing anger and frustration over a surge in violence as gangs try to seize full control of Port-au-Prince.

“The only thing the Haitian people are asking for is security,” said Eric Jean, a bus driver with a large Haitian flag tied around his neck. 

“We’re losing more neighbourhoods, more people are dying, more people are fleeing their homes.”

Also joining the protest was Marc Etienne, who blamed gangs for raiding his small business and leaving him homeless. 

Mr Etienne called for a new government as he blamed the current leaders for the ongoing violence and an increase in the number of children joining gangs.

“Haiti cannot be run among friends,” he said. “The city is dying because the council is not doing anything to make it better.”

Sunday’s demonstration comes a day after hundreds of people gathered in Port-au-Prince to honour several community leaders killed in recent clashes with gangs.

“Freedom or death!” the mourners shouted on Saturday as the leaders of the Canape-Vert neighbourhood entered a small stadium where the memorial was held.

Videos posted on social media showed the leaders carrying automatic weapons and wearing black T-shirts emblazoned with pictures of those killed. Many wore balaclavas to cover their faces and protect themselves from possible retaliation by gangs.

Canape-Vert is one of the few neighbourhoods that has yet to fall to gangs that control at least 85 per cent of the capital. It also is known for having one of Port-au-Prince’s most powerful neighbourhood organisations, led in part by frustrated police officers.

Last year at least 5,600 people were killed across Haiti.

Gang violence also has left more than one million people homeless in recent years.