20598: (Chamberlain) French troops deploy (later story) (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: Greg Chamberlain <GregChamberlain@compuserve.com>

   By STEVENSON JACOBS

   GONAIVES, March 19 (AP) -- French troops fanned out from Haiti's capital
Friday to establish control in rebel-held northern Haiti and allow relief
organizations to deliver food and medicines disrupted during the rebellion
against Jean-Bertrand Aristide.
   A convoy of 150 French Legionnaires reached Gonaives, the city north of
Port-au-Prince where a street gang began the armed rebellion that helped
oust Aristide. Another 200 French troops arrived in Cap-Haitien, the
northern port of 500,000 that is Haiti's second largest city. There was no
reported resistance.
   Rebels in both cities had said they would disarm only if their enemies
in the Aristide camp lay down their weapons, and it was not immediately
clear how troops proposed to deal with that. But on Friday, rebels in
Gonaives -- who apparently had hidden their weapons -- claimed they were
ready to cooperate.
   "We are going to turn over our weapons tomorrow," rebel leader Winter
Etienne told reporters before jumping into a van and speeding off.
   U.S. forces, meanwhile, continued to patrol the capital of
Port-au-Prince and said they were planning to deploy to the south and east.
Chilean troops replaced a U.S. Marine security detail at the international
airport.
   Interim Prime Minister Gerard Latortue planned to visit Gonaives, his
hometown, on Saturday -- his first official trip outside the capital since
he was named prime minister after Aristide fled Feb. 29.
   Latortue's visit was being coordinated with French and American troops,
said Xavier Pons, spokesman for the French troops.
   Also Friday, Aristide's top security chief, Oriel Jean, 39, was
extradited from Canada to the United States to face a drug trafficking
charge, said Patrick Charette, a spokesman for Canada's Justice Department.
   The move underscored Washington's claims that Aristide's administration
was corrupted by drug trafficking.
   Jean, who denies the charge, had his U.S. visa revoked last year. He was
arrested in Toronto this week and waived his right to an extradition
hearing. He had worked for Haiti's government for a dozen years.
   Charette said Jean's arrest warrant was based on a charge of conspiracy
to import cocaine. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration says he could
face proceedings in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
   Two weeks ago, White House press secretary Scott McClellan accused
Aristide of leading "a failed government that condoned official corruption,
including drug trafficking," but he refused to say what evidence there was
to support that claim.
   Roger F. Noriega, assistant U.S. secretary of state for Western
Hemisphere Affairs, testified March 10 that "Aristide turned a blind eye to
the rampant corruption and drug trafficking of those within his circle of
power."
   In February, drug lord Beaudoin "Jacques" Ketant was sentenced to 27
years for money laundering and moving 41 tons of Colombian cocaine through
Haiti to the United States. He told a Miami court that Aristide "turned the
country into a narco-country." Ira Kurzban, then a Miami attorney for the
Haitian government, dismissed the allegations from what he called "a lying,
convicted drug dealer."
   Aristide had accused the rebels of using drug proceeds to fund their
uprising.
   One of the key French missions in the north is providing security so
relief organizations can help the needy. During the insurrection, rebels
isolated much of the region with roadblocks, blocking supplies of food,
fuel and water.
   Some 150 French Legionnaires arrived Friday afternoon in Gonaives --
home to a street gang that grew into the popular uprising. They set up camp
on the grounds of the State University of Haiti. As children watched, two
armored personnel carriers patrolled past a burned-down police station.
   Garry Joseph, a 38-year-old fisherman, welcomed the arrival of the
French troops.
   "The rebels have done a good job of getting rid of the bad guys, so if
the French can help with that, then that's good," Joseph said.
   Since Aristide fled and peacekeepers arrived, at least six Haitians have
been killed in clashes and one Marine was shot in the arm.
   Aristide said he was forced out by the United States, which denies it
did anything but help save the embattled leader's life by arranging a
flight to the Central African Republic. Aristide has since flown to the
nearby island of Jamaica to be with his wife and children.