EvanL
02-28-2004, 06:13 PM
2 hours, 24 minutes ago
JUDY MONCHUK
COCHRANE, Alta. (CP) - Three Hercules military transports were dispatched to Haiti by Prime Minister Paul Martin on Saturday to bring home any Canadians who want to flee the war-torn country.
Canadian Press Photo
"The situation in Haiti is deteriorating hour by hour," Martin said after meeting with rural Alberta municipal leaders. "The purpose of the aircraft is to make sure Canadians can be transported safely if the situation continues to deteriorate at the extent that it is."
The aircraft could bring Canadians out as soon as late Saturday, he said, noting that commercial air service has been suspended as rebels approach the capital, Port-au-Prince, and the city descends into chaos.
About 1,000 Canadians were registered with the embassy but it is not known how many remain in the country.
Defence Department spokesman Capt. Dale MacEachern said Saturday afternoon from Ottawa that the planes had arrived in the region but would not confirm they were inside Haitian borders.
The planes, sent from CFB Trenton, Ont., were accompanied by an undisclosed number of personnel to assist two earlier deployments by the Canadian Forces earlier in the week.
One team was sent to set up an emergency contingency plan while nine soliders were assigned to guard the Canadian embassy and staff.
MacEachern would not speculate how long the teams would remain in the region but added that any decision to send additional forces would depend on how the situation develops.
Martin has been in touch with UN Secretary General Kofi Annan (news - web sites) while Foreign Affairs Minister Bill Graham is in talks with the Americans and the French as the crisis in Haiti develops.
"All of us are very concerned," said Martin. "We want to be make sure we're in a position to act if need be."
The prime minister said no decisions have been made about sending additional troops to Port-au-Prince.
Nor have there been any discussions whether Canada would offer asylum to Haitian President Jean-Bertrand Aristide, who has refused to step aside amid the rising violence. Aristide once lived briefly in Montreal before returning to lead his country.
"The question of asylum in Canada has not been raised," Martin said. "Our view is that there has got to be a constitutional solution. There has to be an agreement between Mr. Aristide and his government and the opposition forces. That has got to be put in place."
In Port-au-Prince, Ambassador Kenneth Cook urged Canadians still in the country to "hunker down" and stay off the streets.
Cook reports the important thing is that Canadians not become a target as heavily armed Aristide supporters and hooligans roam the capital.
The embassy moved operations this week from its downtown location to Cook's residence.
The ambassador said six Canadians who work at the embassy remain on the job.
Cook said everyone was on pins and needles wondering exactly when and if the rebels would enter the capital.
Earlier Saturday, rebel leader Guy Philippe said his men would continue to converge on Port-au-Prince but would hold off moving into the city for a day or two in response to U.S. appeals.
More than 80 people, half of them police officers, have been killed since the rebellionerupted on Feb. 5.
Earlier this week, the Foreign Affairs Department said Canadians should not travel to Haiti and advised Canadians in the country to leave
JUDY MONCHUK
COCHRANE, Alta. (CP) - Three Hercules military transports were dispatched to Haiti by Prime Minister Paul Martin on Saturday to bring home any Canadians who want to flee the war-torn country.
Canadian Press Photo
"The situation in Haiti is deteriorating hour by hour," Martin said after meeting with rural Alberta municipal leaders. "The purpose of the aircraft is to make sure Canadians can be transported safely if the situation continues to deteriorate at the extent that it is."
The aircraft could bring Canadians out as soon as late Saturday, he said, noting that commercial air service has been suspended as rebels approach the capital, Port-au-Prince, and the city descends into chaos.
About 1,000 Canadians were registered with the embassy but it is not known how many remain in the country.
Defence Department spokesman Capt. Dale MacEachern said Saturday afternoon from Ottawa that the planes had arrived in the region but would not confirm they were inside Haitian borders.
The planes, sent from CFB Trenton, Ont., were accompanied by an undisclosed number of personnel to assist two earlier deployments by the Canadian Forces earlier in the week.
One team was sent to set up an emergency contingency plan while nine soliders were assigned to guard the Canadian embassy and staff.
MacEachern would not speculate how long the teams would remain in the region but added that any decision to send additional forces would depend on how the situation develops.
Martin has been in touch with UN Secretary General Kofi Annan (news - web sites) while Foreign Affairs Minister Bill Graham is in talks with the Americans and the French as the crisis in Haiti develops.
"All of us are very concerned," said Martin. "We want to be make sure we're in a position to act if need be."
The prime minister said no decisions have been made about sending additional troops to Port-au-Prince.
Nor have there been any discussions whether Canada would offer asylum to Haitian President Jean-Bertrand Aristide, who has refused to step aside amid the rising violence. Aristide once lived briefly in Montreal before returning to lead his country.
"The question of asylum in Canada has not been raised," Martin said. "Our view is that there has got to be a constitutional solution. There has to be an agreement between Mr. Aristide and his government and the opposition forces. That has got to be put in place."
In Port-au-Prince, Ambassador Kenneth Cook urged Canadians still in the country to "hunker down" and stay off the streets.
Cook reports the important thing is that Canadians not become a target as heavily armed Aristide supporters and hooligans roam the capital.
The embassy moved operations this week from its downtown location to Cook's residence.
The ambassador said six Canadians who work at the embassy remain on the job.
Cook said everyone was on pins and needles wondering exactly when and if the rebels would enter the capital.
Earlier Saturday, rebel leader Guy Philippe said his men would continue to converge on Port-au-Prince but would hold off moving into the city for a day or two in response to U.S. appeals.
More than 80 people, half of them police officers, have been killed since the rebellionerupted on Feb. 5.
Earlier this week, the Foreign Affairs Department said Canadians should not travel to Haiti and advised Canadians in the country to leave