South Africa's Mbeki to visit Bahamas, Haiti

Saturday, December 27, 2003

PRETORIA, South Africa (AFP): South African President Thabo Mbeki leaves this weekend for the Bahamas and then to strife-torn Haiti to attend bicentennial independence celebrations in Port-au-Prince, the foreign ministry said Friday.

Mbeki, accompanied by his wife and a high-powered entourage including Foreign Minister Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, will leave for the Bahamas on Sunday and remain in the islands until December 31, foreign ministry spokesman Ronnie Mamoepa said.

In the Bahamas, Mbeki will meet with Governor General Dame Ivy Dumont, Prime Minister Perry Christie as well as opposition leaders and captains of industry.

"The visit is aimed at forging closer relations with the countries of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) whilst strengthening and consolidating bilateral political and economic relations," the foreign ministry statement said.

Mbeki will spend January 1 in Haiti, which will be celebrating the 200th anniversary of its independence from France.

Tensions have risen in the western hemisphere's poorest country in recent weeks with a string of protests against President Jean Bertrand Aristide amid accusations of corruption and misrule.

More than 30 people have been killed, 85 injured by gunshots and 80 arrested in clashes linked to the political unrest since September.

Mbeki's visit to Haiti has been criticised in South Africa, with one political party slamming reports that Pretoria had offered 1.5 million dollars as "material support" for the jamboree. 

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