18167: (Chamberlain) U.S. urges its citizens to consider leaving Haiti (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: Greg Chamberlain <GregChamberlain@compuserve.com>

     WASHINGTON, Jan 30 (Reuters) - The U.S. State Department said on
Friday it had moved to reduce its diplomatic presence in Haiti because of
civil unrest and political demonstrations and it urged U.S. citizens to
consider leaving the country.
     The department said it had offered free flights out of Haiti to its
nonessential diplomats and to all embassy family members on a voluntary
basis following recent clashes between supporters and opponents of
President Jean-Bertrand Aristide.
     "Private American citizens should evaluate their own security
situations and should consider departing the country," it added in a travel
warning released to the public.
     "The Department of State warns U.S. citizens to defer travel to
Haiti," it added, strengthening a warning that it issued on Jan. 9, when it
told Americans to delay any plans to visit Haiti if possible.
     "Americans are reminded of the potential for spontaneous
demonstrations and violent confrontations between government supporters and
students and other groups that oppose the government of Haiti."
     In the latest violence, a Haitian university student was killed on
Wednesday after being hit in the torso by a tear gas canister fired by
police as pro- and anti-government protests gripped the poor Caribbean
country.
     Aristide and his political foes have been at odds over the tainted
results of parliamentary elections in 2000.