20378: (Chamberlain) Africa-Aristide (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: Greg Chamberlain <GregChamberlain@compuserve.com>

   BANGUI, Central African Republic (AP) -- The president of the Central
African Republic said Sunday he will decide soon whether the exiled
Jean-Bertrand Aristide can leave to return to the Caribbean, Aristide's
lawyer said.
   A delegation of American and Jamaican officials arrived Sunday in the
African country on a chartered jet to escort Aristide to temporary asylum
in Jamaica. Ira Kurzban, Aristide's lawyer, and Rep. Maxine Waters,
D-Calif. were among the group.
   The delegation met with Central African President Francois Bozize, said
Amy Goodman of Pacifica Radio's Democracy Now! radio and television
program, who accompanied the group on the plane.
   Kurzban reported that Bozize said he was still deciding whether Aristide
could leave, Goodman said. More soldiers appeared to deploy at the
presidential palace around midnight as the delegation awaited a decision.
   Aristide later told Goodman that he believed Bozize was consulting
officials in the United States, France and the West African nation of
Gabon.
   Those three countries were instrumental in persuading Central African
Republic to give temporary asylum to Aristide, who has said he was given no
choice in the matter.
   Aristide has claimed he was forced from power by the United States on
Feb. 29 and was being held prisoner at Bozize's palace. Those allegations
were denied by the United States and France, which said Aristide was a free
man.
   Jamaican Prime Minister P.J. Patterson, speaking as current chairman of
the 15-nation Caribbean Community, has called for an international
investigation into the circumstances of Aristide's departure from Haiti.
The 53-nation African Union echoed that call last week.
   In recent days, U.S. officials have criticized Jamaica for offering to
host Aristide, saying the prospect has raised tensions in Haiti and
threatens to undermine a relative peace enforced since a monthlong
rebellion ended with his departure.
   "Jamaican authorities are certainly taking on a risk and a
responsibility" by accepting Aristide, U.S. Ambassador to Haiti James Foley
said Saturday.
   The chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. Richard Myers said
during a brief visit to U.S. peacekeepers in Haiti on Saturday that "As far
as Aristide's return to the region is concerned, if that increases the
violence here, then that would be extremely unhelpful."
   Haiti's new U.S.-backed prime minister, Gerard Latortue, also has warned
that Aristide's return to the region could increase tensions.
   Aristide supporters who are demanding his return have said they were
planning more protests in Port-au-Prince, the Haitian capital. Previous
protests have turned violent.