19454: Phil: Jacmel on Saturday

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: Phil <phildk@prodigy.net>

Spoke with young friend in Jacmel tonight - and he calls his sister in PAP
several times day.  Rumors are flying of course.  In Jacmel, some rebel
forces passed through enroute to PAP - no fighting but everyone nervous.
These friends, so far, seem to feel fairly safe.

The pro-govt. forces, having blocked the main roads into PAP, may have
played into rebels' hands:  they (rebels) are supposedly planning to
strangle the city, rather than try frontal assault.  I hope the French,
Canadians, and Americans can make a show of force and get people to stop
this thing. The stumbling block being adamant demand A. step down, Vs his
adamant promise to finish the elected term. We need George Mitchell.

Phil