19911: (Chamberlain) I wil return, says Aristide (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: Greg Chamberlain <GregChamberlain@compuserve.com>

(BBC, 5 March 04)


Haiti's Aristide accuses France



Haiti's former President Jean Bertrand Aristide has accused Paris of
colluding with the US to remove him from office.

In a phone conversation with a French writer Mr Aristide said he had not
officially resigned and still planned to return home.

The US has denied Mr Aristide's claim that it forced him on to a plane.

South Africa is among those calling for an independent inquiry into the
circumstances surrounding his flight from Haiti on Sunday.

The Caribbean regional body Caricom has also said Mr Aristide's allegations
should be investigated.

US State Department spokesman, Richard Boucher, rejected the calls, saying
there was nothing to investigate.

In the telephone conversation with Haiti specialist Claude Ribbe, Mr
Aristide said that he had signed a document to "avoid a bloodbath" but that
there was no formal resignation.

The ousted president was speaking from the Central African Republic, from
where it has been rumoured he will travel on to South Africa.

But he said any new destination would only be a step on a journey back to
Haiti.

"I'm not the kind of person to stay in exile... If I have to make a
stopover in South Africa, I will - before going back home."

The circumstances of Mr Aristide's departure have been shrouded in mystery
since he left Haiti on Sunday.

The former president said he was the victim of a coup d'etat, forced to
leave by "American agents".

Officials in the CAR now say Mr Aristide only knew of his destination 45
minutes before the plane touched down, and that he and his entourage were
guarded by 60 US marines.

US Secretary of State Colin Powell strenuously denied the allegation,
saying said Mr Aristide had gone into exile "willingly, and that's the
truth".

South Africa has said that it sent a shipment of weapons to try and help Mr
Aristide fight the rebels shortly before he was deposed.

Defence Minister Mosiuoa Lekota said the plane carrying arms landed in
Jamaica and had been requested by Caricom.