Uncle Sam
03-01-2004, 12:36 PM
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/4416174/
http://img29.photobucket.com/albums/v88/deathdot1/HAITIUPRISING.jpg
US Marines from Camp Lejeune, N.C., walk past soldiers of the French Antilles
Army at the Toussaint Louverture International Airport in Port-au-Prince,
Monday, March 1, 2004.
PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti - U.S. Marines and French troops on Monday secured strategic spots in Haiti's capital including the presidential palace, where a half-dozen Marines were on patrol when a convoy of 70 rebels arrived, saying they planned to "clean" the palace for Haiti's interim leader.
Thousands of Haitians converged on the plaza outside the National Palace and a nearby police station to greet the rebels, shouting “Liberty!” and “Aristide is gone!” -- referring to Jean-Bertrande Aristide, who fled the country on Sunday.
Rebel leader Guy Philippe, a former assistant police chief and military officer, earlier said his men were there to help Haiti's interim president, Supreme Court Chief Justice Boniface Alexandre. “We’re just going to make sure the palace is clean for the president to come ... that there is no threat there,” he said.
A half-dozen Marines in combat fatigues and carrying assault rifles could be seen on the grounds of the palace. The rebels and the Marines did not immediately approach each other.
The Marines are part of a contingent that U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell estimated would reach 1,000 over the next few days. Dozens of Marines arrived overnight for what Powell described as a U.N.-sanctioned "stability operation" in Haiti.
Powell envisioned a process in which political leaders would choose an interim prime minister followed by new presidential elections. The goal will be to shift to a civilian force once that stability is in place, Powell said on NBC's "Today" show.
Aristide abandoned the presidency as rebels advanced on the capital Port-au-Prince and his police force did little to slow them down.
"It was the wise and patriotic thing from him to step aside," Powell said of Aristide, who fled to the Central African Republic with his wife and a small entourage. Aristide is expected to seek asylum in South Africa.
Potential obstacles
Haiti's first democratically elected president, Aristide was wildly popular in Haiti at first but eventually lost credibility as many Haitians began to feel his government was corrupt.
Alexander, Aristide's constitutional successor, declared Sunday he was taking control of the government and urged calm.
Alexandre has a reputation for honesty but could face a legal obstacle: The Haitian constitution calls for parliament to approve him as leader, and the legislature has not met since early this year when lawmakers’ terms expired.
Powell said he did not want some of leaders of the rebel groups to try to take any role in a new government. “Some of these individuals we would not want to see re-enter civil society in Haiti because of their past records and this is something we will have to work through,” Powell said.
One of the rebel leaders headed government death squads that killed Aristide followers when the Haitian military ousted Aristide in 1991. Aristide was restored by U.S. troops in 1994.
Philippe was in the military in the period when it repressed dissident politicians.
http://img29.photobucket.com/albums/v88/deathdot1/HAITIUPRISING.jpg
US Marines from Camp Lejeune, N.C., walk past soldiers of the French Antilles
Army at the Toussaint Louverture International Airport in Port-au-Prince,
Monday, March 1, 2004.
PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti - U.S. Marines and French troops on Monday secured strategic spots in Haiti's capital including the presidential palace, where a half-dozen Marines were on patrol when a convoy of 70 rebels arrived, saying they planned to "clean" the palace for Haiti's interim leader.
Thousands of Haitians converged on the plaza outside the National Palace and a nearby police station to greet the rebels, shouting “Liberty!” and “Aristide is gone!” -- referring to Jean-Bertrande Aristide, who fled the country on Sunday.
Rebel leader Guy Philippe, a former assistant police chief and military officer, earlier said his men were there to help Haiti's interim president, Supreme Court Chief Justice Boniface Alexandre. “We’re just going to make sure the palace is clean for the president to come ... that there is no threat there,” he said.
A half-dozen Marines in combat fatigues and carrying assault rifles could be seen on the grounds of the palace. The rebels and the Marines did not immediately approach each other.
The Marines are part of a contingent that U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell estimated would reach 1,000 over the next few days. Dozens of Marines arrived overnight for what Powell described as a U.N.-sanctioned "stability operation" in Haiti.
Powell envisioned a process in which political leaders would choose an interim prime minister followed by new presidential elections. The goal will be to shift to a civilian force once that stability is in place, Powell said on NBC's "Today" show.
Aristide abandoned the presidency as rebels advanced on the capital Port-au-Prince and his police force did little to slow them down.
"It was the wise and patriotic thing from him to step aside," Powell said of Aristide, who fled to the Central African Republic with his wife and a small entourage. Aristide is expected to seek asylum in South Africa.
Potential obstacles
Haiti's first democratically elected president, Aristide was wildly popular in Haiti at first but eventually lost credibility as many Haitians began to feel his government was corrupt.
Alexander, Aristide's constitutional successor, declared Sunday he was taking control of the government and urged calm.
Alexandre has a reputation for honesty but could face a legal obstacle: The Haitian constitution calls for parliament to approve him as leader, and the legislature has not met since early this year when lawmakers’ terms expired.
Powell said he did not want some of leaders of the rebel groups to try to take any role in a new government. “Some of these individuals we would not want to see re-enter civil society in Haiti because of their past records and this is something we will have to work through,” Powell said.
One of the rebel leaders headed government death squads that killed Aristide followers when the Haitian military ousted Aristide in 1991. Aristide was restored by U.S. troops in 1994.
Philippe was in the military in the period when it repressed dissident politicians.