Aristide may go home - Mbeki
2006-02-19 15:29
Johannesburg - President
Thabo Mbeki said on Sunday that former Haitian president
Jean-Bertrand Aristide may be able to return home after
consultation with Haiti's new president.
Aristide has been living in exile in South Africa since 2004
when he fled an uprising over charges of rights abuses and
corruption.
Mbeki said there was no reason why the former Roman Catholic
priest should not go back to Haiti after an election this month,
which was won by Aristide ally Rene Preval.
"I would imagine from everything that I've seen and heard
President Preval himself wouldn't want to oppose President
Aristide's return to Haiti," Mbeki said on SABC radio.
"But I think it will be determined largely by an assessment
by Rene Preval, by President Aristide as to the timing of it so
that it doesn't produce unnecessary problems."
After his ouster, South Africa insisted that Aristide was
Haiti's rightful leader and said he had been toppled by the
United States and France.
Aristide, who remains popular in Haiti's poor slums, has
been silent for most of his stay in South African and not
commented on his possible return after the elections.