19202: (Chamberlain) France proposes force for Haiti, blames Aristide (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: Greg Chamberlain <GregChamberlain@compuserve.com>

     PARIS, Feb 25 (Reuters) - France on Wednesday proposed setting up an
international police force to restore order in Haiti and blamed President
Jean-Bertrand Aristide for the chaos in a statement seen as a call for him
to step down.
     French Foreign Minister Dominique de Villepin said in the statement
that Aristide bore a heavy responsibility for the chaos engulfing its
former colony. More than 60 people have died in a bloody three-week revolt
against his presidency.
     "It is up to him to draw the conclusions within the rule of law. It is
his decision, his responsibility. Everybody can see that this is the time
to open a new chapter in the history of Haiti...," Villepin said.
      French diplomatic sources said the strongly worded statement amounted
to a call for Aristide to quit.
     Under France's plan, a civilian force made up of police from
unspecified contributing nations would be set up and international aid
given to Haiti to prepare for presidential elections under a transitional
government of national unity.
     "The international force will be in charge of ensuring the return of
public order and...it would support a government of national unity,"
Villepin said.
     A ministry spokesman said it was too early to say who should take part
in the force or whether it would be armed.
     The statement said international action could involve regional
organisations like the Organisation of American States (OAS) and Caribbean
bloc CARICOM, different United Nations organisations and the European
Union.
     In Washington, U.S. President George W. Bush said the deteriorating
situation in Haiti might require an international security presence, once a
political settlement was reached.
     Such a settlement did not look imminent as armed gangs built flaming
barricades in the capital Port-au-Prince before an expected rebel advance
that sent foreigners fleeing the country.
     France's plan also proposed sending humanitarian aid, human rights
observers and committing the international community to long-term aid for
the economic and social reconstruction of the country, the poorest in the
Americas.
     Villepin said the plan could be submitted to the OAS and CARICOM and
then forwarded to the U.N. Security Council for approval.
     It would then be up to U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan to name a
special representative in charge of implementing the force and coordinating
the actions of human rights groups and non-governmental organisations like
the Red Cross.