25338: (news) Chamberlain: Haitian who led anti-Aristide rebellion dies (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: Greg Chamberlain <GregChamberlain@compuserve.com>

     PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti, June 9 (Reuters) - A former rebel who started
an armed rebellion against Haiti's former President Jean-Bertrand Aristide
last year has died of kidney failure, members of his entourage said on
Thursday.
     Buter Metayer, 34, had long been ill and died of natural causes on
Wednesday, his associates said. Another former rebel leader and Metayer
ally, Guy Philippe, claimed Metayer was poisoned but gave no details.
     Metayer led an attack on a police station in the northern city of
Gonaives on Feb. 5, 2004, beginning the revolt that forced Aristide into
exile 24 days later as rebels closed in on the capital,
     He said he launched the attack to avenge the execution-style killing
of his brother, Amiot Metayer, a drug trafficker and leader of the
"Cannibal Army" gang that enforced loyalty to Aristide in Gonaives. He
blamed the death on Aristide.
     Months after Aristide's departure Buter Metayer, who alternately
spelled his first name Butteur, and Philippe transformed the armed movement
into a political party, known as National Reconstruction Front.
     They said they had lain down their weapons to try to gain power
through elections. But many of their companions remained armed and involved
in violence.
     Criminal and political violence has killed at least 750 people in
Haiti since September, including 51 police officers.