19183: (Chamberlain) Haiti-Uprising (later story) (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: Greg Chamberlain <GregChamberlain@compuserve.com>

   By MICHAEL NORTON

   PORT-AU-PRINCE, Feb 25 (AP) -- U.S. Marines escorted foreigners trying
to flee Haiti's capital Wednesday as looting broke out and opposition
leaders urged a "timely and orderly" departure of beleaguered President
Jean-Bertrand Aristide.
   President Bush warned that the U.S. Coast Guard would turn back any
Haitian refugees trying to reach American shores. He said Washington still
hoped for a political solution and was discussing a strong security
presence in Haiti with the international community.
   Aristide loyalists built dozens of flaming barricades throughout the
capital, blocking roads all over Port-au-Prince in hopes of thwarting a
rebel attack. Thugs robbed people at the barricades.
   With a motley group of rebels overrunning half the country, led in part
by Haitians accused in past massacres, the stalemate raised alarm in the
international community and added to pressure for Aristide to resign.
   U.S. Marines guarded a convoy of U.N. personnel after the United Nations
on Wednesday ordered all nonessential staff and family to leave.
   Canada said a team of soldiers flew into Port-au-Prince on Tuesday to
aid a possible evacuation of 1,000 citizens, Foreign Affairs spokesman
Reynald Doiron said in Ottawa.
   Opposition leaders rejected a U.S.-backed peace plan for Haiti that
would have Aristide remain as president but share power with political
rivals.
   "It is absolutely necessary for the international community to accompany
the country in its quest for a mechanism that will allow for a timely and
orderly departure of Jean-Bertrand Aristide," the Democratic Platform
coalition said in a statement.
   Opposition leader Evans Paul said at a news conference that the first
step in resolving the crisis was Aristide's departure.
   As the Dominican Republic doubled the number of troops along its
225-mile border with Haiti, Bush urged any Haitians who might try to flee
the island "to stay home as we work to reach a peaceful solution to this
problem."
   "We still hope to achieve a political settlement between the current
government and the rebels," Bush said. "The secretary of state has been in
touch with Canadian officials and French officials and Caribbean officials,
all aimed to convince the parties to come to the table and effect a
peaceful solution."
   French U.N. Ambassador Jean-Marc de La Sabliere said Tuesday that
diplomats were considering proposing "a police force, or a civilian force"
for approval by the U.N. Security Council.
   Rebel leader Guy Philippe remained in Cap-Haitien, Haiti's
second-largest city in the north that militants seized Sunday and are
making their base.
   Britain and Australia on Tuesday urged their citizens to get out of
Haiti, following similar warnings from the United States, France and
Mexico. There are about 30,000 foreigners in Haiti, 20,000 of them
Americans.
   Last-ditch diplomatic efforts by Secretary of State Colin Powell did not
save the peace plan because of the opposition's insistence upon the
resignation of Aristide, who has lost much popular support amid accusations
he condoned corruption, failed to help the poor and brutally suppressed the
opposition.
   French Foreign Minister Dominique de Villepin was to meet this week in
Paris with representatives of the Haitian government and the opposition to
try to resolve the escalating crisis in the former French colony.
   Police on patrol but did nothing to stop Aristide militants robbing
people of handbags, cell phones or whatever they had in cars.
   Guy Lockrey, an auto worker from Flint, Mich., was forced to abandon his
car at a barricade and was walking to the airport with his suitcase when
police picked him up.
   "We didn't feel any tension until we got close to the capital," said
Lockrey, who had driven from west-central Haiti, where he was helping build
a church.
   Aristide loyalists have become more aggressive since Haiti's small and
demoralized police force fled the rebel advance. The insurgents have
torched more than 20 police stations in northern Haiti since the uprising
began Feb. 5.
   On Tuesday, Aristide warned that if rebels try to take the capital,
thousands would die. At least 70 people have been killed in the three-week
uprising, about 40 of them police officers.
   "We need the presence of the international community as soon as
possible," he said. "Unfortunately many brothers and sisters ... will take
to the sea, they will become boat people."
   At the National Palace, where Aristide made his plea in French, English,
Spanish and Creole, few police officers were visible. But an official said
about 100 were on guard.
   Haiti has no military. It was disbanded after U.S. troops returned
Aristide, Haiti's first freely elected leader, to power in 1994. The
military had deposed Aristide in 1991 and instituted a reign of terror.
   Philippe told The Associated Press on Tuesday he wants to restore the
army but does not want another military dictatorship.
   Aristide said he was not calling for a military intervention, but
international help to better train and equip Haiti's police. Previous
requests have been ignored as countries, including the United States,
accuse Aristide of politicizing the police force, ignoring corruption among
officers and using the police and armed militants to crush dissent.
Aristide denied those charges.
   In a letter to Powell, Rep. Barbara Lee, D-Calif., accused the Bush
administration of standing by while an elected government faces violent
overthrow.
   "People are dying, and our own commitment to democracy is under siege.
... Our failure to support the democratic process and help restore order
looks like a covert effort to overthrow a government," wrote Lee.
   Human Rights Watch said the international community should consider
sending soldiers and police to Haiti, citing the "horrendous human rights
records" of some rebel leaders and the "violent and lawless methods"
adopted by pro-government gangs.
   ActionAid agency warned of looming hunger and health crises. It said
only one hospital still is operating in Port-au-Prince, and food prices in
are rising.