Aristide sends his sympathy
2004-09-23 16:56
Pretoria - Ousted Haitian president Jean-Bertrand Aristide has expressed sypathy from South Africa on Thursday with former compatriots lashed by a tropical storm in recent days.
"It is with great sadness that I watch reports of the devastation wrought upon Haiti by Hurricane Jeanne," he said in a statement through the department of foreign affairs.
"(The northern city of) Gonaives, the cradle of our independence, has suffered enormously.
"Mildred (his wife) and I extend profound sympathies to every family that has been touched by this tragedy.
"Condolences and courage to an entire nation that has seen much pain and suffering in this tumultuous bicentennial year. We continue to stand in solidarity with all Haitians who suffer."
The storm has claimed the lives of more than 1 000 people in Haiti. Another 1 250 were missing in the floods and mudslides.
A guest of the SA government
Aristide resigned in February and flew to the Central African Republic after a months-long uprising against his rule and claims of corruption.
He has now been housed in South Africa for several months as a guest of the government - at the request of the Caribbean Community and the African Union.
An interim government has been put in place in Haiti, helped by a United Nations force.
- SAPA