PORT-AU-PRINCE (Reuters) -Two Haitian journalists were killed Thursday on the outskirts of Port-au-Prince after suspected gang members opened fire on a group of reporters who had arrived to interview the leader of a rival gang, according to a police official and local media.

       The two slain journalists were Amady John Wesley, who worked for the Montreal-based radio station Ecoute FM, and local reporter Wilguens Louissaint, according to a Haitian police official who spoke on condition of anonymity.

       Ecoute FM confirmed Wesley's death in a statement, describing the killing as a "criminal and barbaric act."

       A third journalist in the group was able to escape the attack, the police official said.

       Multiple gangs are fighting for control of the area of Laboule 12, where the killings took place.

       (Reporting by Gessika Thomas and Andre Paultre in Port-au-Prince and Carolina Pulice in Mexico City; Writing by Laura Gottesdiener; Editing by Sandra Maler)