21527: Esser: Haiti Asks for Extension of US Troop Presence (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: D. Esser torx@joimail.com

Voice of America News
http://www.voanews.com

April 24, 2003

Haiti Asks for Extension of US Troop Presence

Six U.S. lawmakers say Haiti's interim government has asked that
American troops remain in the country past the June deadline.

The bipartisan delegation made the announcement Friday in
Port-au-Prince after talks with Haiti's interim President Boniface
Alexandre and interim Prime Minister Gerard Latortue.

Democratic Congressman Elijah Cummings of Maryland said both Haitian
leaders made it clear that they would like to see a U.S. Marine
presence beyond the June 1 deadline.

Republican Congressman Mark Foley from Florida, said the United
States wants to work with Haitian leaders in the long term to help
strengthen the nation.

U.S. troops have been in Haiti since President Jean-Bertrand Aristide
left in the Caribbean nation after a violent uprising in February.
The troops are part of a 3,600-member international force that is
scheduled to be replaced by Brazil-led U.N. peacekeepers in June.