20376: (Chamberlain) AP: Haiti (later story) (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: Greg Chamberlain <GregChamberlain@compuserve.com>

   By PETER PRENGAMAN

   PORT-AU-PRINCE, March 14 (AP) -- French troops took over patrols Sunday
in a slum where U.S. Marines -- under fire -- killed at least two people
and angered residents demanding the return of ousted President
Jean-Bertrand Aristide.
   Aristide, meanwhile, was expected to return to the region two weeks
after he fled a bloody rebellion under pressure from the United States and
France. He planned to leave exile in the Central African Republic later
Sunday and reach Jamaica early Monday.
   His imminent arrival in the neighboring island is raising tensions in
Haiti, where his followers plan more protests to demand he be restored as
the legitimate leader.
   A five-member delegation of American and Jamaican officials, including
Rep. Maxine Waters, D-Calif., met with Aristide late Sunday.
   Sharon Hay-Webster, a representative of the Caribbean Community regional
bloc who is leading the delegation, said Aristide was likely to leave
before midnight Sunday after a meeting with Central African Republic
President Francois Bozize.
   Central African Republic officials, however, said the delegation could
be delayed until Monday.
   Sunday was calm in Port-au-Prince as girls with bows and men in ties
filled churches and visited with family.
   "We pray that a spirit of commerce returns to the country, and we pray
that our community can now be based on justice and freedom," the Rev.
Chancy Crierlain told hundreds of parishioners at the Roman Catholic
cathedral.
   French soldiers patrolled La Saline, a gritty seaside slum like many
where Aristide still commands support and where resentment and anger brewed
after Marines shot and killed two men in a firefight on Friday.
   The Marines said the two were gunmen, though no weapons were recovered.
Residents said those killed were not armed or militant.
   U.S. Marine Maj. Richard Crusan said the French presence was part of a
normal rotation.
   "French and U.S. Marines have both been patrolling throughout
Port-au-Prince," he said.
   During a brief visit Saturday, top U.S. military commander Gen. Richard
Myers warned Haitians to lay down their weapons.
   "The multinational security forces will not tolerate violence against
our forces or against Haitian civilians," he said. "Those causing violence
will be dealt with appropriately."
   U.S.-led peacekeepers say they have a new mission to help Haitian police
disarm the general population.
   But one young French trooper, who identified himself only as Sgt.
Jean-Michel, said his group had just come from Ivory Coast and had more
experience in peacekeeping than the Americans.
   "I'm afraid things could get bad for the Americans. They have sensitive
fingers on the trigger," he said. "We're more relaxed under fire."
   U.S. troops have been attacked several times and have shot and killed at
least six Haitians in the past week, although Marines reported a peaceful
Saturday night.
   The French, who have yet to come under fire in Haiti, have an easier
time communicating with Haitians, who generally understand only Creole or
French. Marines have been shouting English-language commands at Haitians.
   U.S. troops are also resented by Aristide's supporters because the
Haitian leader has claimed the U.S. government forced him from office --
something Washington denies.
   Interim Prime Minister Gerard Latortue has warned Aristide's return to
the region could threaten a fragile stability. Aristide was scheduled to
stay eight to 10 weeks in Jamaica while searching for a third country of
permanent asylum.
   Jamaican officials said he had been warned not to use the visit to
promote his campaign to return to Haiti, and that it was being allowed only
to reunite Aristide and his wife, Mildred, with their two young daughters.
The girls were sent to New York City during the rebellion, which erupted
Feb. 5 after months of protests demanding Aristide resign.
   More than 300 people were killed before Aristide left Feb. 29, according
to estimates by The Associated Press and the Pan American Health
Organization.
   Latortue, meanwhile, was making final decisions on his Cabinet and
should name some on Monday, aide Robert Ulysse said. Under a U.S.-backed
plan, he is to form a transitional government uniting former enemies from
Aristide's Lavalas Family party and a disparate opposition coalition.
   "They are trying to get names that are acceptable to everybody,"
Aristide Cabinet Minister Leslie Voltaire said.
   An official who spoke on condition of anonymity said retired army Chief
of Staff Herard Abraham was being considered as interior minister while
lawyer Bernard Gousse, an Aristide critic, was slated for the justice
portfolio.
   Abraham supports recreating Haiti's disgraced army, a key demand of
rebel ex-soldiers who include two assassins convicted in the killings of
Aristide supporters.
   In 1995, Aristide disbanded the Haitian army, which had fomented 32
coups. The last coup toppled Aristide in 1991 just months after he became
Haiti's first democratically elected leader.
   The United States sent 20,000 troops to restore Aristide in 1994. The
tumultuous welcome those troops received is a far cry from the hostility in
evidence today.