19460: Lemieux: BBC: Embattled Aristide quits Haiti (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: JD Lemieux <lxhaiti@yahoo.com>

Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/americas/3519821.stm

Published: 2004/02/29 13:32:05 GMT

Embattled Aristide quits Haiti
Haiti's President Jean-Bertrand Aristide has gone into
exile after a three-week rebellion against his rule, the US
and French governments say.
Mr Aristide was said to be on his way to neighbouring
Dominican Republic from where he will seek asylum.

His departure came as rebels, who control much of the
country, neared the capital, Port-au-Prince.

The US and France had called on him to step down for the
good of the Haitian people.

'Right decision'

Reports from Port-au-Prince said an unmarked jet carrying
Mr Aristide and his security chief had been seen leaving
the city's airport at dawn.

No-one saw Mr Aristide on board, but both American and
French officials confirmed the president was no longer in
Haiti.

Conflicting reports suggested Mr Aristide would seek asylum
in Morocco, Taiwan, Panama or South Africa.

The BBC's Stephen Gibbs, in Haiti, says it is believed the
White House helped to make the final arrangements for his
departure.

The Bush administration said Mr Aristide had made the right
decision for the Haitian people by resigning.
Just hours earlier, the White House had delivered its
sharpest criticism of him to date, blaming him for the
crisis in his country and questioning his fitness to govern
amid looting and anarchy in the capital.

"His failure to adhere to democratic principles has
contributed to the deep polarisation and violent unrest
that we are witnessing in Haiti today," a US statement
said.

Rebel advance

The unrest which has gathered pace in recent weeks stems
from disputed elections in 2000, which the opposition says
were rigged in Mr Aristide's favour.

But anger has turned to mounting violence. In the past
three weeks rebels have taken control of much of the
country; law and order has broken down; and armed gangs
loyal to Mr Aristide have been roaming the streets of
Port-au-Prince.

On Saturday, Haitian rebel leader Guy Philippe said he had
decided to hold off an attack on the besieged Haitian
capital for "a day or two".

The rebels were demanding Mr Aristide's resignation - which
he had continually insisted was out of the question.

Haiti's constitution stipulates that the chief judge of the
Haitian Supreme Court, currently Boniface Alexandre, would
take over the presidency, if Mr Aristide has resigned.

Reports from rebel-held Cap Haiten said people were dancing
on the streets at the news of Mr Aristide's departure.

But in the capital, angry crowds converged on the
presidential palace, AP reported.

It is the second time Mr Aristide has been forced into
exile. He was ousted in 1991 in a coup within months of
becoming Haiti's first democratically elected leader

He was restored to power three years later by a US-led
military intervention.

Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/americas/3519821.stm

Published: 2004/02/29 13:32:05 GMT

© BBC MMIV

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