[JURIST] The UN Security Council [official website] has urged government officials in Haiti [JURIST Country news archive] to curb human rights violations and expedite the releases of political leaders currently held in prison. In a statement [official text] Wednesday the Council urged the interim Haitian government to calm violence in the area in preparation for elections scheduled for later this year. UN peacekeepers have been in the Caribbean nation since the violent ouster of President Jean-Bertrand Aristide in November 2004. The statement released by the council makes reference to former Prime Minister Yvon Neptune [Wikipedia profile], who remains detained without formal charges and has begun a hunger strike; and urges the formation of a compensation program for former military men as part of an integrated disarmament, demobilization and reintegration program [UN overview of DDR programs, PDF]. Reuters has more.