Thousands of revellers poured into the downtown area of Haiti's capital to kick off a three-day festival called the Carnival of Flowers.

The Haitian government held the main carnival celebrations in the countryside this year, mainly because a public plaza in Port-au-Prince still housed thousands of people displaced by the 2010 earthquake.

The administration of President Michel Martelly wanted to hold Sunday's celebration to mark the clearing of the park-turned-settlement and also let people in Port-au-Prince enjoy their own carnival.

Some critics have questioned the wisdom of spending around $1.6 million on the event.

The government says the celebration will boost morale and provide jobs.