22423: (Chamberlain) Haiti-March (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: Greg Chamberlain <GregChamberlain@compuserve.com>

   By AMY BRACKEN

   PORT-AU-PRINCE, June 18 (AP) -- More than 5,000 supporters of ousted
President Jean-Bertrand Aristide marched through Haiti's capital Friday,
calling for his return and accusing the U.S. government of forcing his
departure.
   The demonstration began in the hilltop slum of Bel Air and wound through
neighborhoods near the presidential palace.
   Protesters, many wearing T-shirts and caps with photos of Aristide,
chanted "George Bush kidnapped Aristide," and "Mobilize for Aristide to
return!"
   Others played drums and cymbals and held framed photos of Aristide, who
left Haiti on Feb. 29 as rebels threatened to take the capital. Aristide,
who has been granted temporary asylum in South Africa, has accused U.S.
agents of kidnapping him -- a charge U.S. officials vehemently deny.
   Haitian riot police and more than two dozen U.S. Marines patrolled the
march route Friday and no violence was reported.
   Protesters said new presidential elections would not be legitimate if
Aristide didn't come back and serve out his term.
   Aristide has said he wants to return one day, but the conditions must be
right. Haiti's new leaders, meanwhile, have opened an investigation into
complaints of corruption during Aristide's administration.
   "We can never go to elections without Aristide being returned," said
Johnny Daris, a 21-year-old mechanic.
   U.S.-backed interim Prime Minister Gerard Latortue has said legislative
elections are to be held in September 2005 and presidential elections two
months later.
   "We cannot go to elections with those people" in the interim government,
said Henri Bonnet, 40, an unemployed man in the march.
   Haiti, the Western hemisphere's poorest country, has been in crisis
since Aristide's Lavalas Family Party swept disputed 2000 legislative
elections. International donors suspended millions in aid, and in the past
year the island nation became embroiled in violent confrontations between
Aristide partisans and opposition supporters.
   Aristide was first flown on a U.S.-chartered jet to the Central African
Republic. He later moved temporarily to Jamaica before leaving for South
Africa on May 31.
   Following Aristide's departure, the United States sent troops under a
U.N. mandate.
   At a meeting in Ecuador last week, the Organization of American States
opened the way for an investigation into Aristide's ouster.
   The human rights group Amnesty International, meanwhile, released a
report Friday calling for action to disarm politically allied factions and
criticizing the work of a U.S.-led multinational force, saying it didn't do
enough to help police make the country secure.
   U.S. military officials disagree, saying the force has returned
stability and security to pre-crisis levels and carried out more than 3,300
patrols, detaining those wanted for crimes and confiscating illegal weapons
while the police force has increased in size. The troops also flew aid to
remote areas following floods last month and carried out humanitarian
projects.
   A U.N. force led by Brazilian troops is taking over this month.