20196: (Chamberlain) Africa-Aristide Exile (later story) (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: Greg Chamberlain <GregChamberlain@compuserve.com>

   By JOSEPH BENAMSSE

   BANGUI, Central African Republic, March 10 (AP) -- The organization
representing 53 African nations should arrange the long-term asylum plans
of Jean-Bertrand Aristide, a South African official said Wednesday after
meeting with the exiled former Haitian leader.
   South Africa Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister Aziz Pahad told The
Associated Press that the African Union should arrange asylum plans for
Aristide, who arrived in the Central African Republic on March 1. He flew
from Haiti the day before on a U.S.-provided jet.
   "He's already here and the question of whether he is going to another
African country, it's an African Union decision," Pahad said without
elaborating.
   The Ethiopia-based AU has condemned Aristide's ouster, saying he was
removed from power unconstitutionally. The AU also said it supported calls
by the 15-nation Caribbean Community, known as CARICOM, for an
investigation under the auspices of the United Nations to clarify the
circumstances leading to Aristide's "relinquishing the presidency."
   The AU said it would accept Aristide receiving asylum in Africa, but it
did not say in which nation he might ultimately settle. Central African
Republic officials have said Aristide may stay in this country, if he asks.
   After Aristide's ouster, South Africa was the country most often
mentioned as his destination, a U.S. official said. On Wednesday, a
three-person delegation from South Africa arrived in the Central African
Republic to discuss Aristide's long-term asylum plans, Foreign Minister
Charles Wenezoui told The Associated Press.
   Pahad said he did not broach the topic in his meeting with Aristide, but
said he gained "a better understanding of the situation that led to
(Aristide's) coming to the Central African Republic -- and what is the way
forward."
   The South African government says it is not opposed in principle to
taking Aristide in, but it has received no formal asylum request from him
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.
   Pahad also said he met with Central African Republic President Francois
Bozize, but he did not provide further details.
   "We are very proud that the Central African Republic ... has offered an
opportunity for Jean-Bertrand Aristide to come here until his future and
the future of Haiti can be resolved," said Pahad, whose delegation flew
back to South Africa later Wednesday.
   South Africa previously has called for an independent international
investigation into the circumstances of Aristide's departure from Haiti.
   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.
   "He was not free to leave the plane," Concannon said. "He was not free
to decide the plane's direction. He did not even know where the plane was
going."
   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.