16831: (Chamberlain) Haiti's Aristide condemns killing of gang leader (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: Greg Chamberlain <GregChamberlain@compuserve.com>

     PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti, Sept 25 (Reuters) - Haitian President
Jean-Bertrand Aristide on Thursday condemned the killing of a
pro-government gang leader whose death has been blamed on the government.
     "I'd like share my sincere condolences with the family of Amiot
Metayer," Aristide said of the so-called "Cannibal Army" chief. "We condemn
without reserve all killings in this country, in particular the killing of
Amiot Metayer," he told reporters.
     Metayer, who had been a focal point of a long-running dispute between
the government and the opposition in the impoverished Caribbean nation, was
found shot to death near the western city of Gonaives on Sunday.
     His death sparked violent demonstrations in Gonaives with protesters,
including members of Metayer's Cannibal Army, calling for Aristide's
resignation.
     The gang, whose leader was imprisoned for leading attacks on
government critics, turned against Aristide when Metayer's brother, Butter
Metayer, suggested the Haitian president was behind the killing. No arrests
have been made in the case.
     According to witnesses quoted by local media, Amiot Metayer was last
seen with a friend, Odonel Paul, an employee of the National Palace.
     Butter Metayer said on radio on Wednesday he believed that Paul was
the prime suspect in his brother's killing.
     Local media said demonstrations continued in Gonaives on Thursday.
Patrick Rene, general inspector for the National Police, told reporters
that 12 armed demonstrators from the Cannibal Army were arrested on
Thursday after they tried to storm the police station in the city.
     Amiot Metayer escaped from a Gonaives prison in August 2002 with more
than 150 other inmates when supporters used a bulldozer to break through
the prison wall.
     After his escape, Metayer appeared frequently in public in Gonaives
and led demonstrations. That prompted charges from opposition parties in
Haiti that the government was allowing an anti-opposition thug to operate
with impunity, fueling a political dispute over tainted elections in 2000.
  (Reporting by Amy Bracken, editing by Anton Ferreira; Reuters Messaging:
frances.kerry.reuters.com+reuters.net; Miami newsroom, +1 305 810-2688 or
e-mail miami.newsroom+reuters.com)