The gang leader behind the violence blighting the Haitian capital has warned there will be a "civil war" if Haiti's prime minister, Dr. Ariel Henry, does not step down.
Jimmy "Barbecue" Chérizier made the threat as members of his gang tried to seize the capital's airport to stop Mr. Henry from returning from abroad.
The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk said the situation was "beyond untenable".
Thousands of Haitians have had to flee.
Aid groups say about 15,000 people, among them many young children, have been displaced from their homes in recent weeks.
Mr. Türk said since the beginning of the year, a staggering 1,193 people have been killed, and 692 others injured in gang violence.
He urged the international community to act swiftly and decisively to prevent Haiti's further descent into chaos.
The United States has called on Mr. Henry to "expedite" a transition.
US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller urged a transition to prepare for "a multinational security support mission" and to "pave the way for free and fair elections".
He said the US wanted Mr. Henry to "make concessions in the interest of the Haitian people" but added that Washington was not "pushing for him to resign".
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