Vance
03-21-2004, 04:13 PM
http://www.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/americas/03/21/haiti.france.reut/index.html
PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (*******) -- A multinational force in revolt-torn Haiti suffered its first fatality when a French legionnaire died after a gun accidentally fired, the commanding general said on Sunday.
"I understand it was an accidental discharge," said U.S. Marine Corp. Brig. Gen. Ronald Coleman, head of the 3,000-strong U.N.-sanctioned deployment.
"It wasn't a Haitian or anyone else shooting at the Frenchman," he told *******. "It was one of their own."
Few details were available about the incident -- the first fatality since the force landed on February 29 to restore order after President Jean-Bertrand Aristide was driven into exile by an armed revolt and U.S. pressure.
A week ago, a U.S. Marine was shot in the arm by gunmen in Port-au-Prince thought to be supporters of Aristide, many of whom are enraged by the ouster of the poor Caribbean country's first democratically elected leader. (Full story)
French army spokesman Col. Christian Baptiste said in Paris it appeared the accident happened Saturday evening. It was unclear whether the French soldier shot himself or was killed by another.
"We have opened an investigation to determine the exact circumstances of the incident," he said.
Other military officials said they thought the death occurred in the gritty port city of Gonaives, in Haiti's northwest, where 144 French legionnaires deployed on Friday as the force extended its grip beyond the capital.
Gonaives was where an armed street gang launched the revolt against Aristide on February 5. Joined by former soldiers and one-time death squad leaders, the rebellion spread through the north.
An uneasy calm has settled over much of Haiti in the past week, despite Aristide's return to the region and the new Haitian government's fears that his proximity in nearby Jamaica could fuel dissent.
Attacks on patrols by U.S. Marines have eased.
RIP
PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (*******) -- A multinational force in revolt-torn Haiti suffered its first fatality when a French legionnaire died after a gun accidentally fired, the commanding general said on Sunday.
"I understand it was an accidental discharge," said U.S. Marine Corp. Brig. Gen. Ronald Coleman, head of the 3,000-strong U.N.-sanctioned deployment.
"It wasn't a Haitian or anyone else shooting at the Frenchman," he told *******. "It was one of their own."
Few details were available about the incident -- the first fatality since the force landed on February 29 to restore order after President Jean-Bertrand Aristide was driven into exile by an armed revolt and U.S. pressure.
A week ago, a U.S. Marine was shot in the arm by gunmen in Port-au-Prince thought to be supporters of Aristide, many of whom are enraged by the ouster of the poor Caribbean country's first democratically elected leader. (Full story)
French army spokesman Col. Christian Baptiste said in Paris it appeared the accident happened Saturday evening. It was unclear whether the French soldier shot himself or was killed by another.
"We have opened an investigation to determine the exact circumstances of the incident," he said.
Other military officials said they thought the death occurred in the gritty port city of Gonaives, in Haiti's northwest, where 144 French legionnaires deployed on Friday as the force extended its grip beyond the capital.
Gonaives was where an armed street gang launched the revolt against Aristide on February 5. Joined by former soldiers and one-time death squad leaders, the rebellion spread through the north.
An uneasy calm has settled over much of Haiti in the past week, despite Aristide's return to the region and the new Haitian government's fears that his proximity in nearby Jamaica could fuel dissent.
Attacks on patrols by U.S. Marines have eased.
RIP