24999: charles (news) Spain threatens to pull out of Haiti (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: Philippe Charles <pgcharles@hotmail.com>

Spain threatens to pull out of Haiti

Madrid, Spain, May. 5 (UPI) -- Spanish Defense Minister Jose Bono says Spain
will pull its troops from Haiti if nations promising funds for the embattled
country fail to pay up.
Bono made the ultimatum while speaking at United Nations headquarters, part
of his four-stop tour of the United States that included talks with U.S.
Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, El Mundo reported Thursday.
U.N. nations have pledged some $700 million to help Haiti, though members
have contributed less than half of the money promised.
"This demonstrates a lack of solidarity and the selfishness, because Haiti
is one of the world's poorest countries," Bono said Wednesday.
Haiti spiraled into violence last year when armed rebel groups began taking
over the country in an effort to oust then-President Jean-Bertrand Aristide
from office.
Aristide eventually left Haiti in February 2004. Since then an interim
government -- and a contingent of 7,500 U.N. peacekeepers -- have tried to
restore order.
Spain has committed 200 troops to Haiti.