19631: (Hermantin)Miami-Herald-Kidnapping claim reverberates at U.N. (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: leonie hermantin <lhermantin@hotmail.com>

Posted on Tue, Mar. 02, 2004

EXILE CONTROVERSY


Kidnapping claim reverberates at U.N.

BY STEWART STOGEL

Special to The Herald


NEW YORK - Ousted President Jean-Bertrand Aristide's claim that he was
forcibly removed from Haiti overshadowed a meeting Monday of five members of
the Congressional Black Caucus and U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan.

The Black Caucus members, including Rep. Kendrick Meek, a Miami Democrat,
conferred with Annan on ways to speed humanitarian relief to Haiti after a
month-long rebellion culminated Sunday in Aristide's departure.

Rep. Elijah Cummings, D-Md., who chairs the Black Caucus, said he wanted to
focus on ways to help the Haitian people but was troubled by reports from
two colleagues -- Maxine Waters, D-Calif., and Charles Rangel, D-N.Y. --
that Aristide claimed to have been ''kidnapped'' by U.S. forces Sunday.

Rangel said the U.N. ``would have no legal basis to deal with the [Haitian]
opposition if this were a coup.''

Cummings added: ``We will get to the bottom of this. Members of Congress
will not stand around and watch a democracy be taken apart by our own
country.''

The Bush administration vigorously denied Aristide's allegation, made from
exile in the Central African Republic.

Secretary of State Colin Powell, who was involved in the negotiations that
led to Aristide's departure, said the Haitian leader decided willingly to
give up power and leave.

The U.N. Security Council late Sunday authorized a peacekeeping force for
Haiti.

Several diplomats at the United Nations said Monday they were worried that
Aristide's ''kidnap'' story, even if untrue, might incite his supporters to
oppose the stabilization force.

_________________________________________________________________
Find things fast with the new MSN Toolbar – includes FREE pop-up blocking!
http://clk.atdmt.com/AVE/go/onm00200414ave/direct/01/