REBEL leader Guy Philippe said today he would hold off attacking
Haiti's capital for a day or two in response to US appeals he read
about on news websites.
Rebels would continue to converge near the capital in the meantime,
he said in an interview with The Associated Press from his base in
Cap-Haitien, Haiti's second-largest city that fell last Sunday.
"I heard the United States asked our men to stop their advance to
Port-au-Prince," he told The Associated Press. "It's on the news on the
Net."
Asked if the United States had directly contacted the rebels, he said
no, that he was acting on information he had read on the Internet.
Weekend AustralianSome other Haiti stories:Rebel chief says he is a servant of his nationunintentional humor.http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/news/world/8063565.htmAristide Urges Calm After Gangs Rampage in Haiti "If you think barricades are necessary, yes, you can do that ... but when the sun appears and the people have to go to work people should be able to work." Aristide said.
He urged the country's 46,000 civil servants to go to work on Monday, adding, "I will also be in my office on Monday."
In Washington, U.S. defense officials said they were considering sending a three-ship group carrying U.S. Marines to Haiti to help deal with the crisis in the Caribbean country of 8
million, the poorest country in the Americas.
Aristide, who has predicted a blood bath if the rebels enter the capital, told CNN by telephone from Port-au-Prince Washington should take a stand for democracy in Haiti.
http://wireservice.wired.com/wired/story.asp?section=Breaking&storyId=827143&tw=wn_wire_storyTT Defence Force "on alert" for HaitiAs one Caricom initative to save Haiti draws its last breath, another - to have a peacekeeping force put in the country - is limping
along. Nevertheless, the Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force is on the alert to go to Haiti as part of a peacekeeping force, Prime
Minister Patrick Manning stated yesterday. Manning also made it clear that despite the growing international opinion from countries
like France, US and Canada, that Aristide should step down, Caricom is holding fast to its principled position that the Haitian leader
was lawfully and democratically elected and therefore Caricom was not prepared to "countenance" his removal by "unconstitutional"
means. Manning also disclosed that on Thursday he called five Caricom leaders, including Aristide, Barbados Prime Minis-ter Owen
Arthur (for "very cordial discussions") and Jamaica Prime Minister PJ Patterson discussing what contribution they would be prepared
to make if a peacekeeping force had to be put in Haiti.
http://www.newsday.co.tt/stories.php?article_id=14432Haiti's President rules out resigningHaiti's President, Jean-Bertrand Aristide, says it is out of the question that he will resign.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/s1055540.htmHaiti's unrest hurting S. Florida's commerceTake that, Jeb.http://www.sun-sentinel.com/business/local/sfl-zhaitibiz28xfeb28,0,4929343.story?coll=sfla-business-frontU.S. Readies Marine Force For Haitihttp://www.military.com/NewsContent/0,13319,FL_haiti_022804,00.html