Prime Minister Paul Martin told Haiti's political adversaries to resolve conflicts and urged gangs to disarm, after a brief visit to the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere on Sunday.

"The international community has made considerable effort to come to Haiti's aid, but we cannot accomplish these engagements without the existence of national reconciliation between all of you Haitians," Martin told officials in a speech during his seven-hour visit.

Rival factions convened for the first time since the interim government in Haiti was formed to hear Martin speak.

Martin visited Haiti in an effort to encourage international support of Haiti, and to ensure next fall's elections are democratic and fair.

"What has to be done is not that difficult," Martin told reporters. "The United Nations and the developed world have got to be here as long as it takes. I believe if we do that, I am very confident that we will come out of here with a very strong society."
This was Martin's first trip to Haiti.

The Caribbean nation, which was devastated by hurricanes and flooding this fall, has been in upheaval since Feb. 29 when its elected president, Jean-Bertrand Aristide, was ousted after a three-week-long bloody uprising.

Haiti's interim government, installed after Aristide was ousted, is led by interim President Boniface Alexandre and caretaker Prime Minister Gerard Latortue.

However, Aristide supporters are demanding his return from exile and a group of supporters in Canada wrote to Martin urging him not to meet with the "illegal authorities" in Haiti.

At least 84 people have been killed, including 26 police officers, since Aristide loyalists intensified efforts to demand his return from exile.

During his short visit, Martin met with Alexandre and Latortue at the National Palace. He later lunched with about 100 government officials, business leaders and a representative of Aristide's Lavalas Family party.

Latortue assured Martin that next fall's elections would be held on time.

Former Haitian Senator and Aristide loyalist Gerard Gilles, who attended the luncheon, said the move to reconciliation was necessary but difficult.

"(When) a very close, sincere friend stabs you savagely in the back, you cannot be his friend," he told The Canadian Press, in an implied reference to Latortue supporters.

Gilles said he was the first Lavalas party representative to meet with the Haitian leader since the interim government was formed.

Lavalas loyalists have accused Canada of conspiring with the United States and France in the ousting of Aristide after Canadian troops were sent to back U.S. marines shortly after Aristide's flight.

At the time, the United States refused to reinforce Aristide's troops against the uprising before Aristide was forced out.

On Friday, Canada announced it would give almost $3 million for disaster relief to Haitian flood victims, another $20 million in humanitarian aid and $180 million over two years for reconstruction and development.

Next week Martin will be attending the Francophone Summit in Africa where he will try to bring more countries on board in support of Haiti.