19953: Lemieux: BBC: US forces deploy in north Haiti (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: JD Lemieux <lxhaiti@yahoo.com>

Story from BBC NEWS:


Published: 2004/03/06 06:31:26 GMT

US forces deploy in north Haiti
US marines sent to restore order in Haiti have moved into
the rebel-held cities of Cap-Haitien and Gonaives.
The marines are trying to help Haitian police disarm the
rebels, but some rebels are resisting, suspicious that
their opponents remain armed.

The capital Port-au-Prince is much calmer than the
near-anarchy of a week ago, though fear of looting remains.


The UN, meanwhile, says Haiti faces a humanitarian crisis
unless aid routes are quickly established and food sent.

On the political front, a seven-member council that will
pick a new prime minister - the beginning of a new Haitian
government - was chosen on Friday.

A spokesman for the Organization of American States said he
hoped a replacement for Prime Minister Yvon Neptune - who
has strong ties to the deposed president - would be chosen
within days.

Rebel-held territory

Information from outside Port-au-Prince is patchy, but US
marines appear to have begun moving into rebel strongholds
in the north, correspondents say.

Special teams from the Miami-based US Southern Command
arrived in Cap-Haitien, on the northern coast, and
Gonaives, on the western coast, a spokesman for the US
forces was quoted as saying.


Aid agencies said they had heard of the marines reaching
Gonaives and as far north as Port-de-Paix.
US marines say they are not trying to impose stability but
are "supporting" Haitian police.

But some rebels are reportedly reluctant to hand over their
weapons until their enemies - supporters of the exiled
former President Jean-Bertrand Aristide - do the same.

In New York, UN Under Secretary General for Humanitarian
Affairs Jan Egeland said most people were without health
care because the hospitals were looted and the UN's food
distributions had come to a halt

He said the UN and other aid agencies were trying to
negotiate with all parties and that the multinational
interim force had agreed to help set up humanitarian
corridors to allow aid to be distributed throughout the
country.

'Still afraid'


In Port-au-Prince, the dust is slowly settling after the
unrestrained killings, arson and looting of a week ago, the
UN children's fund (Unicef) told BBC News Online.

Eric Larouche said food and medical supplies were arriving
and distribution had begun but he warned looting was
continuing, and many people who needed hospital treatment
were still too scared to leave home.



FOREIGN TROOPS IN HAITI
US: 1,250 marines there - an additional 1,500-2,000 troops
expected
Canada: 100 troops there, expected to rise to 450
France: 600 troops there
Chile: 130 there, expected to rise to 300
Brazil: pledged 1,100 troops later
"If you go to a hospital, the doctors are very afraid," he
said.

"If you are delivering drugs and surgical equipment, they
tell you it will only be looted overnight."

Hospitals were one of the main targets for looters during
the unrest.

On Friday, Canada announced it would contribute 450 troops
to the interim international force currently being formed
in Haiti. The force will help keep order ahead of a UN
peacekeeping force expected to arrive in two or three
months.

Defence Minister David Pratt said the troops would be
accompanied by six helicopters.

He said he expected them to begin arriving in Haiti in
about five days.

The troops will join 1,250 US marines, and more than 800
French, Canadian and Chilean troops already in place.

The US agreed at a meeting on Friday to lead the interim
international force, the head of the French forces in
Haiti, Gen Henri Clement-Bollet, told the AFP news agency.

Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/hi/world/americas/3537499.stm

Published: 2004/03/06 06:31:26 GMT

© BBC MMIV


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