Haitians may escape to sea
2004-02-24 18:58
Port-Au-Prince, Haiti - President Jean-Bertrand Aristide warned on Tuesday that the northern rebellion could cause a wave of boat people, saying rebels are attacking northwestern Port-de-Paix, a centre for boat-building, and launch on dangerous trips to escape Haiti.
At a news conference in Port-au-Prince, with rebels threatening to attack the capital any day and opposition leaders stalling an international peace plan, he made an emotional appeal for Haitian to stay in the country so that they can vote.
"The criminals and terrorists went to the north, to Port-de-Paix, and burned private and public buses, killing people," Aristide said, amid reports the rebels had attacked overnight.
"Unfortunately many brothers and sisters in Port-de-Paix will not come down to Port-au-Prince, they will take to the sea, they will become boat people."
Instead of fleeing to Florida, he said, they should think about coming to Port-au-Prince, so that they can vote in new elections.
- AP