Authorities in Kenya are putting on hold a planned deployment of 1,000 police officers to a UN Security Council-approved mission to combat gang violence in Haiti.

The UN's highest decision-making body last year greenlighted the Kenya-led, multinational mission to the impoverished Caribbean nation, where armed groups have largely overrun the capital, Port-au-Prince .

But Haitian Prime Minister Ariel Henry, who had requested the deployment of a foreign armed force a year ago, said on Tuesday that he would resign from his position, throwing the would-be mission into disarray.

The armed groups, who rule much of the capital, had demanded Henry's departure after they launched a series of attacks on police stations, prisons and other infrastructure.

Henry agreed to step down after mounting pressure and a surge in violence.

Armed groups have prevented him from returning from Puerto Rico following a trip to Kenya last week, leaving him stranded in the US territory.

"I'm asking all Haitians to remain calm and do everything they can for peace and stability to come back as fast as possible," Henry said in a video address announcing his decision to step down.

But Henry's move has thwarted Kenya's effort to send troops to Haiti, senior government officials said.

Abraham Korir Sing'Oei, a Kenyan Foreign Ministry official told Kenya Television Network that it would be difficult to deploy police officers to Haiti in the absence of a recognized government........

© Deutsche Welle