20859: (Chamberlain) Haiti-Justice (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: Greg Chamberlain <GregChamberlain@compuserve.com>

   PORT-AU-PRINCE, March 26 (AP) -- Haiti will block dozens of ex-members
of Jean-Bertrand Aristide's government from leaving the country, including
former Prime Minister Yvon Neptune, the new justice minister said Friday.
   Those barred from leaving also include ex-police chief Jocelyne Pierre
and Rene Civil, a founding member of Aristide's party, Justice Minister
Bernard Gousse told The Associated Press.
   Gousse said the exit ban is "as an insurance policy" to ensure the
officials would be available for investigations into embezzlement and other
crimes committed by the previous government.
   In all, 37 ex-officials and Arisitide loyalists will not be allowed to
leave, including the former head of the central bank, Gousse said.
   Human rights groups and some Caribbean leaders have criticized the
government for allowing some rebels convicted in past killings of Aristide
supporters to continue walking free.
   The new interim prime minister, Gerard Latortue, also recently praised
rebels as "freedom fighters."