20046: (Chamberlain) France-Aristide (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: Greg Chamberlain <GregChamberlain@compuserve.com>

   PARIS, March 8 (AP) -- Exiled Haitian President Jean-Bertrand Aristide,
in a telephone conversation aired Monday on French radio, called on
countrymen to peacefully resist the "unacceptable occupation" of Haiti and
said he remains the nation's president.
   "The Haitian people resist and must continue to finalize a peaceful
resistance to face down this unacceptable occupation that follows this
political kidnapping which is also unacceptable," Aristide said.
   RTL radio, which aired the comments, said that Aristide was speaking not
in an interview but in a telephone conversation with a friend. He agreed to
allow the conversation to be aired, according to RTL. The radio station did
not say when the conversation took place.
   Aristide flew into exile March 1 in the Central African Republic where
he is currently housed in an apartment at the presidential palace in
Bangui, the capital.
   His comments were aired less than 24 hours after Aristide, in a note
read by Central African Republic Foreign Minister Charles Wenezoui, said he
would respond to journalists' questions "at the opportune time."
   Aristide has apparently not left the crumbling palace since his arrival
but said in the note that he was "well looked-after."
   In the conversation aired Monday, Aristide reiterated claims that he was
kidnapped, saying that he thought he was being taken to make a speech
before the nation when he was, instead, put aboard a plane.
   He said he left "next to arms brandished by American and foreign
military" who had taken up positions around the presidential palace in the
Haitian capital and at the airport.
   "I thought they were going to lead me to the press to speak to the
nation. I found myself aboard an airplane for 20 hours without knowing
where I would land," he said.
   The United States, France and the West African nation of Gabon arranged
Aristide's flight to Bangui. French and American troops are in Haiti.
   Aristide said he was "elected president of Haiti democratically" and
"remains the constitutional president" despite his departure.
   There was no mention of the violence Sunday in the Haitian capital of
Port-Au-Prince in which five people were killed.