Aristide allies roam capital
2004-02-26 09:04
Port-Au-Prince - Armed supporters of President Jean Bertrand Aristide threw up roadblocks and looted the Haitian capital on Wednesday in anticipation of a threatened rebel attack as France became the first country to call on Aristide to stand down.
Hundreds of Haitians and foreigners braved masked, anger-prone gang members to mob the Port-au-Prince airport hoping to leave. At least two airlines cancelled flights due to deteriorating security and waning hopes for a peaceful solution.
US President George W Bush said a security force could only be sent after a settlement is reached, and warned potential Haitian refugees against taking to sea.
But Haitians were already fleeing: the US Coast Guard said it intercepted a vessel from Gonaive, northern Haiti, in waters off Florida carrying 28 people.
"If Aristide goes, that is good. If he goes we will lay down our arms," said Guy Philippe, the former police commissioner whose small rebel force has made stunning gains in a three week insurrection.
We are already ready
Philippe said that his forces could move on Port-au-Prince at any time. "We are already ready. The city is already almost entirely surrounded," he said.
"If we have not yet attacked Port-au-Prince, it is to give peace a chance," he added, referring to the international mediation attempts.
Fearing imminent attack, gangs loyal to the president searched cars and their occupants around Port-au-Prince at makeshift barricades of trucks, shipping containers, abandoned household appliances and burning tires.
At the capital's main hospital, at least six people were being treated for gunshot wounds and several said they had been shot by militia members, popularly known as "chimeres" - mythical fire-breathing monsters.
Two car dealerships and several businesses were looted by pro-Aristide gangs, according to the opposition which said that despite the surging violence it would not accept any international force that keeps the president in office.
Opposition leaders stressed they were still willing to work with the international community on creating a framework for Aristide's "timely and orderly departure."
Any solution "must address the source of the problem which is Mr Jean Bertrand Aristide," they said in a statement, repeating claims the president and his ruling Lavalas Family political party are guilty of widespread human rights abuses, corruption, and vote-rigging.
French Foreign Minister Dominique de Villepin said Haiti was "threatened by chaos," and called on Aristide to "draw the consequences" from the deadlock as his regime "has been doing without constitutional legality."
Aristide, who has rejected calls to step down before his term ends in 2006, had accepted an internationally backed power-sharing plan that would allow him to remain as president but with significantly weakened authority.
But his two small daughters left for the United States on Wednesday, Aristide's wife told CNN.