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Aristide Arrives in Central Africa
MyWay News ^

Posted on 03/01/2004 3:47:31 AM PST by Happy2BMe

BANGUI, Central African Republic (AP) - Former Haitian President Jean-Bertrand Aristide arrived in the Central African Republic Monday, fleeing Haiti under an asylum offer negotiated by France and the United States, the government here said.

Aristide and a small entourage including his wife flew into this impoverished, Africa nation in the early morning. Shortly after arriving, he gave a brief address to Central African Republic state radio - his first public comments since leaving Haiti.

"In overthrowing me, they cut down the tree of peace," the exiled leader declared. "But it will grow again, because the roots are well-planted."

He also thanked authorities here, and saluted Africa and its people - "because Africa is the father of us, Haitian men and women."

(AP) Gen. Raoul Cedras is seen in this October 1991 photo. Cedras, who helped drive a military coup that...
Full Image
State radio said that Aristide would stay in the country for "a few days" and possibly head to South Africa afterward, although that could not be confirmed.

"He's here with his wife and we've granted them asylum for the beginning, and then we'll see what happens," Communications Minister Parfait Mbaye told The Associated Press.

"I don't know that yet," Mbaye said when asked where Aristide would go next. "But we will know it in the days to come."

The ousted Haitian president's arrival solved the immediate mystery of Aristide's whereabouts after his weekend flight from Haiti, where rebels were moving in upon the capital.

Security guards at the airport in Bangui, the country's capital, said Aristide's plane arrived at 1:15 a.m. EST.

An Associated Press reporter saw a white plane with green stripes sitting on the tarmac, and a car belonging to Central African Republic's foreign minister going into the airport.

Aristide was taken from there to the presidential palace, in the bullet-pocked capital, Bangui.

The United States, France and the west African nation of Gabon helped negotiate Aristide's start in exile here, Mbaye said.

Central African Republic - so cash-strapped that it has been unable to pay many civil servants' salary here for months - hoped that the international community would help pick up the tab of Aristide's stay here, the communications minister said.

Earlier, in Antigua, a senior Caribbean official said Aristide told him during a refueling stop on the Caribbean island that he was bound for South Africa.

In Johannesburg, presidential spokesman Bheki Khumalo cast doubts on reports of Aristide being headed for South Africa.

"We are still not aware that he is coming here. I would have thought by now we would have known if he was," Khumalo said.

Western diplomats in Johannesburg also said they had no indication that Aristide was heading to the country.

Under pressure from foreign nations, rebels and political opponents, Aristide resigned Sunday and flew into exile following a two-week rebellion that has wrecked the Caribbean nation.

Aristide's plane was in Antigua for about an hour Sunday to refuel, officials said on condition of anonymity.

Several countries including Panama and Costa Rica said they would offer exile to Aristide.

It was not clear why Central African Republic was the choice for at least a first stop in exile.

A former French colony, Central African Republic stands today as one of Africa's most turbulent countries, weathering nine coups and coup attempts since independence in 1960.

Current military ruler Francois Bozize took power in a March 2002 coup - himself ousting an elected but increasingly upopular leader. Bozize has been courting international support as he tries to restore aid and stability to his country.

Although rich in gold, diamond and other resources, the impoverished nation of 3.7 million is habitually unable to make its civil servants payroll, helping spark incessant strikes, unrest and coup attempts.


TOPICS: Extended News
KEYWORDS: aristide; centafricanrepublic; coup; crisis; haiti; rebels
Aristide.
1 posted on 03/01/2004 3:47:31 AM PST by Happy2BMe
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To: All
Haitian President Jean-Bertrand Aristide, left, enters a U.S. government plane en route to Port-au-Prince, Haiti in this Oct. 15, 1994 file photo. President Jean-Bertrand Aristide resigned and flew into exile Sunday, Feb. 29, 2004 pressured by foreign governments and a bloody rebellion. Gunfire crackled as the capital fell into chaos, and Washington dispatched Marines. (AP Photo/Daniel Morel, file)

2 posted on 03/01/2004 3:48:58 AM PST by Happy2BMe (U.S.A. - - United We Stand - - Divided We Fall - - Support Our Troops - - Vote BUSH)
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To: Happy2BMe
I understand the Central African Republic is lovely this time of year.
3 posted on 03/01/2004 3:50:08 AM PST by billorites (freepo ergo sum)
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To: autoresponder; MeekOneGOP; JohnHuang2; B4Ranch; Sabertooth
Interested in a very inexpensive vacation package to an exotic Caribbean getaway?
4 posted on 03/01/2004 3:50:22 AM PST by Happy2BMe (U.S.A. - - United We Stand - - Divided We Fall - - Support Our Troops - - Vote BUSH)
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To: billorites
Wanna bet where he winds up at?
5 posted on 03/01/2004 3:51:29 AM PST by Happy2BMe (U.S.A. - - United We Stand - - Divided We Fall - - Support Our Troops - - Vote BUSH)
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To: Happy2BMe
"Wanna bet where he winds up at?"

Tenured professorship at Brown?

6 posted on 03/01/2004 3:54:11 AM PST by billorites (freepo ergo sum)
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To: billorites
CIA Fact Book for CAR
7 posted on 03/01/2004 3:54:36 AM PST by csvset
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To: Happy2BMe
Please, please, please President Bush, stick this tar baby to the UN and France as soon as possible and get us the hell out of there. When they fail, we can point out over and over ad nauseum to Hitlery and her band of democraps just how good the international communisty is at setting up "democracies".
8 posted on 03/01/2004 3:57:05 AM PST by RushLake (Permission from the UN...we don't need no stinking permission slip from the UN.)
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To: billorites
Is Brown in Florida?
9 posted on 03/01/2004 3:59:22 AM PST by Happy2BMe (U.S.A. - - United We Stand - - Divided We Fall - - Support Our Troops - - Vote BUSH)
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To: Happy2BMe
Well hello!! What is little Warren Christopher doing there?
10 posted on 03/01/2004 4:01:44 AM PST by Elkiejg (Clintons and Democrats have ruined America)
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To: Elkiejg
""Wanna bet where he winds up at?"
Tenured professorship at Brown?"

ROFL...
11 posted on 03/01/2004 4:39:56 AM PST by EQAndyBuzz (60 Senate seats changes the world!! Bury Kerry in 04!)
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To: csvset
"CIA Fact Book for CAR"

Interesting url.

Thanks for posting.

12 posted on 03/01/2004 4:44:23 AM PST by G.Mason (Fleas can be taught nearly anything that a Congressman can ... Mark Twain)
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To: Happy2BMe
In overthrowing me, they cut down the tree of peace that I planted on Mt. Delusion in the land of Marx.

Good riddance.

13 posted on 03/01/2004 4:46:31 AM PST by lafroste
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To: Happy2BMe
Well Bill's Boy certainly had a short career
14 posted on 03/01/2004 5:14:48 AM PST by uncbob
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To: Happy2BMe
Warren Christopher is an arsehole, imho ...

He looks like his face once caught on fire and
someone tried to put it out with an icepick ...


15 posted on 03/01/2004 5:57:00 AM PST by MeekOneGOP (The Democrats believe in CHOICE. I have chosen to vote STRAIGHT TICKET GOP for years !!)
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To: Elkiejg
Who's that behind WC?

I recognize him from somewhere.
16 posted on 03/01/2004 7:47:41 AM PST by fishtank
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To: Happy2BMe
That's where presidents eat prisoners isn't it ?
17 posted on 03/01/2004 7:59:32 AM PST by 1066AD
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