21806: (Chamberlain) US-Haiti (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: Greg Chamberlain <GregChamberlain@compuserve.com>

   WASHINGTON, May 10 (AP) -- The United States is increasing aid to Haiti
by about $40 million in an attempt to bring stability to the turbulent,
impoverished Caribbean nation.
   The additional money can be used for police support, jobs programs,
humanitarian assistance and to strengthen democracy, spokesman Richard
Boucher said Monday.
   The money is in addition to $55 million already budgeted for Haiti this
year. That figure doesn't include the costs of basing more than 2,000
troops in Haiti as part of a multinational force.
   Haiti, the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, is trying to
organize elections following the armed revolt that forced President
Jean-Bertrand Aristide from power Feb. 29.
   Aristide has requested asylum in South Africa, the country's Foreign
Affairs Ministry said Monday.
   Boucher said Aristide's travel and destinations are "something we've
talked about from time to time with other governments, but the decision on
where to go and the decision on where to welcome him are decisions for
others to make."