20187: (Chamberlain) Africa-Aristide Exile (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: Greg Chamberlain <GregChamberlain@compuserve.com>

   By JOSEPH BENAMSSE

   BANGUI, Central African Republic, March 10 (AP) -- South Africa and a
bloc of 15 Caribbean nations are investigating the circumstances
surrounding the ouster of former Haiti leader Jean-Bertrand Aristide, a
South African official said Wednesday.
   As part of that investigation, a South African delegation arrived
Wednesday in the Central African Republic, where Aristide has been living
in exile since March 1, a Central African Republic official said. The visit
is part of South Africa's consultations with the 15-nation Caribbean
Community, or CARICOM.
   Ronnie Mamoepa, spokesman for the South African Foreign Affairs
Ministry, said the three-person delegation is led by Deputy Foreign Affairs
Minister Aziz Pahad, but he would not identify its other members.
   South Africa previously has called for an independent international
investigation into the circumstances of Aristide's departure from Haiti.
   Mamoepa also said the delegation will discuss Aristide's plans for
long-term exile, but he refused to say whether an offer of asylum in South
Africa would be discussed. It was not known when Aristide would meet the
delegates, who arrived in a South African military jet and may leave by
Friday, a Central African Republic foreign ministry official said.
   South Africa has been mentioned as a possible destination for Aristide.
The government says it is not opposed in principle to taking him in, but it
has received no formal asylum request from Aristide or the Haitian
government.
   Western diplomats said on condition of anonymity that the South African
government was told of Aristide's preference to go there, but believed it
would be inconvenient because of upcoming elections.
   The South African delegation also planned to meet leaders of the Central
African Republic, Foreign Minister Charles Wenezoui told The Associated
Press. The Central African Republic has said it would grant Aristide
permanent asylum if he asks.
   The visit comes as Aristide's lawyers prepare court cases seeking his
return to power in Haiti. Aristide accuses the United States of forcing him
out of office against his will -- a claim denied by top officials in
Washington.
   Aristide fled his homeland in a U.S.-provided jet after a deadly
two-week insurgency. Aristide's regime was accused of, among other things,
using heavy-handed tactics against political opponents.
   American lawyer Brian Concannon, who met with Aristide, said in Paris
that "there are preparations for a kidnapping case against the American
authorities." Cases are being prepared in the United States and France, he
said.
   Another American lawyer for Aristide, Ira Kurzban, has sent a letter to
Attorney General John Ashcroft asking the Justice Department to investigate
the circumstances of Aristide's Feb. 29 departure.
   ------
   Associated Press reporter Alexandra Zavis in Johannesburg, South Africa,
contributed to this report.