18054: (Chamberlain) Haiti-Opposition (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: Greg Chamberlain <GregChamberlain@compuserve.com>

   NASSAU, Bahamas, Jan 20 (AP) -- Caribbean leaders met with Haitian
opposition members Tuesday in a move to resolve a lengthy political impasse
in Haiti that has led to a surge of violence in recent months.
   The 14-member Haitian delegation was from the Democratic Platform -- a
coalition of opposition political parties, clergy, students and business
leaders. It refuses to participate in new elections unless Haitian
President Jean-Bertrand Aristide resigns.
   No one from the Haitian government attended the meeting. It was supposed
to include members of Aristide's government but the opposition refused to
hold talks with anyone from the government.
   Pressure has been building on Aristide since his party swept 2000
legislative elections that observers said were flawed. Poverty has deepened
and unrest has risen. In the past four months, at least 47 people have been
killed in demonstrations.
   Jamaican Prime Minister P.J. Patterson said he hoped the meetings would
help relations between Aristide and the opposition. He also said that the
15-member Caribbean Community wants to hold discussions with the embattled
leader.
   "If a solution is to be reached both sides have to really give some,"
Patterson said.
   The opposition says Aristide must step down and be replaced by a
transitional governing council. Aristide has refused calls for his
resignation, saying he will serve out his term which expires in 2006.
   Trinidadian Prime Minister Patrick Manning and Bahamian Prime Minister
Perry Christie also attended the talks.