17561: Lemieux AP: Thousands demand Aristide's ouster in Haiti (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: JD Lemieux <lxhaiti@yahoo.com>

Thousands demand Aristide's ouster in Haiti; gunmen open
fire on crowd
MICHAEL NORTON, Associated Press Writer
Monday, December 22, 2003
©2003 Associated Press




(12-22) 16:39 PST PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) --

An armed gang opened fire on anti-government protesters
Monday during a clash that killed one man and left
President Jean-Bertrand Aristide facing growing unrest.

The gunmen were in a truck when they shot at the crowd.
Riot police returned fire. It was not immediately clear who
shot the man or if he was a demonstrator.

The attack came a day after U.S. Ambassador James Foley
signed a communique exhorting the police to protect the
demonstrators against "armed gangs."

Haiti, the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, has
been in turmoil since Aristide swept flawed 2000 elections.
Since mid-September, at least 23 people have been killed
during anti-government demonstrations.

Monday's demonstration was one of the largest in the
capital, swelling to 10,000 people.

"We need a change," said Paul Destin, 30. "We're losing our
freedom of speech and street thugs are terrorizing the
people. This has got to stop."

Aristide has been struggling to maintain support.

Many have alleged the government has tried to repress
anti-government demonstrations by using the police to break
them up, or by allowing Aristide supporters to use
strong-arm tactics against opponents.

Aristide was ousted in a 1991 coup and restored to power in
a 1994 U.S. occupation. He stepped down in 1996 due to a
term limit and was re-elected in 2000.

Aristide has refused opposition calls to step down, saying
he will serve out his term until 2006.

©2003 Associated Press


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