20989: (Chamberlain) Aristide lawsuit accuses French of kidnapping (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: Greg Chamberlain <GregChamberlain@compuserve.com>

     PARIS, March 31 (Reuters) - Ousted Haitian President Jean-Bertrand
Aristide filed a lawsuit in Paris on Wednesday against unnamed French
officials accusing them of "death threats, kidnapping and sequestration."
     His French lawyer Gilbert Collard said Aristide's complaint accused
France of playing a role in his departure from Haiti on February 29, when
he was forced out by an army revolt and U.S. pressure to quit.
     Aristide has repeatedly accused the United States of forcing him into
exile after a rebellion plunged Haiti into chaos. He plans to file an
identical suit in the United States targeting American officials, Collard
added.
     France was the first country to call for the departure of Aristide
from Haiti, which was one of its wealthiest colonies during the 18th
century before a slave rebellion led to independence in 1804.
     Washington and Paris deny Aristide's kidnap allegation. They say he
agreed to leave Haiti and signed his own letter of resignation.
     Aristide initially went to the Central African Republic and is
temporarily in Jamaica.
     The former leader has yet to decide whether he will accept permanent
asylum in South Africa, his spokesman said last week, denying reports that
an asylum deal had been reached.