18859: (Chamberlain) US-Aristide (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: Greg Chamberlain <GregChamberlain@compuserve.com>

   By GEORGE GEDDA

   WASHINGTON, Feb 19 (AP) -- All non-government Americans in Haiti should
leave while transportation is still available, the State Department said
Thursday, citing the violent uprising.
   Peace Corps personnel are being withdrawn, and the government has
authorized the departure of family members and non-emergency employees of
the U.S. Embassy on a voluntary basis, the department said.
   Separately, the government said it was sending a military team to assess
the security of the embassy in light of the uprising against President
Jean-Bertrand Aristide.
   The embassy has imposed a curfew from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. on its staff and
their family members. Thursday's warning said the curfew hours may change.
   "American citizens should be aware that the U.S. Embassy has prohibited
travel by its staff outside of Port-au-Prince," the warning said.
   It added that the embassy's ability to provide emergency services to
American citizens outside the capital city was limited and had "drastically
decreased in recent days due to numerous random roadblocks set up by armed
groups."
   Meanwhile, Secretary of State Colin Powell said the United States and
other countries had agreed to present a plan to the Haitian government and
opposition leaders for settling Haiti's political crisis.
   The plan was expected to be delivered to the two sides on Friday.
   Some opposition leaders have demanded that Aristide step down, but
Aristide said Thursday he would rather die defending his country than leave
office.
   Powell said the plan does not contemplate Aristide's leaving before his
term ends in February 2006. But he said the United States would not object
if, as part of negotiations with opposition leaders, Aristide agreed to
leave ahead of schedule.
   Powell added that the international community must do what it can to
help Aristide in his capacity as Haiti's elected leader.
   Besides the United States, the plan has the backing of the United
Nations and the Organization of American States, some of whose members have
been particularly active in efforts to reach a settlement. They include
Canada and the 15-nation Caribbean Community (Caricom). France, the former
colonial power, also is playing a key role.
   State Department spokesman Richard Boucher said the plan closely follows
a Caricom proposal already submitted to the parties.
   "They are the kind of steps the parties have committed themselves to. We
want to go to the parties and see that they implement these steps," Boucher
said.
   Key elements of the Caricom plan include professionalization of the
Haitian police and rules that would govern political demonstrations.
   Rep. Elijah E. Cummings, D-Md., chairman of the Congressional Black
Caucus, sent a letter to President Bush on behalf of the CBC urging the
administration to send a "clear and direct" message to Haitians.
   "It should include an immediate cease-fire and an end to the violence,
the respect for democracy, and the adherence to the Haitian Constitution to
restore the rule of law," Cummings said.
   "We strongly urge you to take action with due haste. The situation in
Haiti, our neighbor and longtime ally, is reaching a critical point and
engagement from our government is imperative."