Caribbean nations urge Haiti to avoid unrest

Monday, January 26, 2004

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AFP): The prime minister of the Bahamas, Perry Christie, on Sunday urged Haiti to avoid further unrest, voicing the concern of other Caribbean nations while on a visit to the troubled country.

Christie urged the nation's rival parties to put the nation's best interests first and to avoid further violence, saying he had confidence in efforts underway to resolve Haiti's political crisis.

Christie came to Haiti following a meeting last week of the Caribbean Community grouping, which has watched with alarm as political violence has escalated since September.

Haiti's President Jean Bertrand Aristide has faced mounting calls for his resignation, and opposition to his government has turned violent with frequent clashes between armed militias supporting and opposing the government, as well as with police.

Aristide told a joint press conference with Christie that "all those who have illegal weapons" needed to disarm.

But he said he was willing to form a government that would include opposition parties and members of civic groups.

He also said he was willing to follow the recommendations of church leaders who proposed to set up a special council made up of representatives from political parties, religious organizations and human rights groups to help Aristide organize elections.

Aristide, a former priest, became Haiti's first democratically elected president in 1990. Six months later, he was ousted in a coup, prompting the United States to invade the island to restore his government.

He stepped down after his first five-year term, but ran again in 2000. He claimed victory, but observers said the elections were flawed and opposition parties claim his Lavalas party rigged the vote.

The Organization of American States and Caribbean neighbors have tried to mediate, without success. 

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