19273: (Chamberlain) Haiti-Sharpton (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: Greg Chamberlain <GregChamberlain@compuserve.com>

   WASHINGTON, Feb 26 (AP) -- Al Sharpton said Thursday he will lead a
brief fact-finding trip to Haiti next week to meet with both the Haitian
president and opposition leaders trying to oust him.
   Sharpton, a long-shot Democratic presidential candidate, said meetings
have been arranged for Wednesday with President Jean-Bertrand Aristide and
with opposition leader Paul Denis in the capital of Port-Au-Prince.
   "As leader of this delegation we will take no side, except the side of
peace," Sharpton said in a statement.
   Rebel forces were converging on the capital Thursday with plans to
arrest Aristide.
   Sharpton spokeswoman Rachel Noerdlinger said travel plans were subject
to change, depending on what happens there. She said about 10 people,
including other ministers, would go on the overnight trip and that it would
be financed by the National Action Network, the nonprofit civil rights
group that Sharpton heads.