20631: Esser: Haiti's interim leader visits cradle of rebellion, praises gang leader (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: D. Esser torx@joimail.com

Associated Press

March 20, 2004

Haiti's interim leader visits cradle of rebellion, praises gang leader

Gonaives, Haiti-AP -- Haiti's interim leader has some praise for the
gunmen who started the uprising that led to the president's fall from
power.
During a rally in the town where the rebellion against President Jean
Bertrand Aristide (zhahn behr-TRAHN' ahr-ihs-TEED') began, Prime
Minister Gerard Latortue (zheh-RARD' lah-tohr-TOO') today shared his
platform with rebel leaders.Latortue promised three-thousand cheering
people a better life, and told them his government would ensure clean
drinking water, provide medical equipment and build at least 100
homes and a four-lane highway.Latortue also paid tribute to a slain
gangster who's become a heroic symbol to many in Haiti, and to all
those who died fighting to oust Aristide.One rebel leader told the
crowd his fighters would surrender their weapons when a police
presence is restored to the city.

Copyright 2004 Associated Press.
.