19779: (Hermantin)Miami-Herald:Haitian rebels to pull back after meeting with U.S. officials

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: leonie hermantin <lhermantin@hotmail.com>

Posted on Wed, Mar. 03, 2004

Haitian rebels to pull back after meeting with U.S. officials

By NANCY SAN MARTIN

nsanmartin@herald.com


PORT-AU-PRINCE - Rebels prepared to abandon Haiti's capital Wednesday
following a private meeting with U.S. officials here and a show of force by
Marines who began rumbling through the city in Humvees to patrol the
streets.

U.S. forces also provided security at the airport for the first shipments of
humanitarian aid to arrive since a bloody revolt that began four weeks ago
paralyzed deliveries. And newly named President Boniface Alexandre was
expected assume control at the National Palace.

Supporters of former President Jean-Bertrand Aristide, who resigned Saturday
and fled into exile Sunday, meanwhile also fled in an apparent move to
escape reprisals.

Witnesses said at least five busloads of prominent Haitians affiliated with
Aristide's Lavalas Family party took off in a charter plane Tuesday
afternoon. They were escorted to the airport by armed security dressed in
black.

The rebels' impending departure from the downtown sector of Port-au-Prince
was an abrupt change of attitude for rebel leader Guy Philippe who a day
earlier had declared himself the country's ``military chief.''

It also revealed just how strong a role the United States is playing in
restoring order here, even though less than 1,000 Marines have arrived to
secure key installations.

''We can't fight here,'' Philippe told the Herald soon after he reportedly
met with U.S. Ambassador James Foley. ``The U.S. asked us to lay down our
weapons.''

Philippe would not say if he would leave the country or simply get out of
the capital. Embassy officials declined to discuss the meeting with
Philippe.

Elsewhere, gunbattles broke out in La Salines, a shanty town that is
well-known as an Aristide stronghold. It was not clear if rebels were
involved in the shootout.

In Saint Marc, north of the capital, five people were killed, bringing the
death toll to more than 100. Looters also ransacked the port in Saint Marc
and attacked a radio station, according to local radio reports.

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