More Us Marines Head for Haiti

More US marines, as well as French and Canadian troops, are today expected to swell the numbers of a small peacekeeping force already in Haiti, sent to fill the power vacuum after President Jean Bertrand Aristide fled to Africa.

Around 100 US marines arrived shortly after the UN security council last night unanimously approved the dispatch of a multinational peacekeeping force to the troubled Caribbean nation.

This morning about 50 French troops joined them and up to 300 may be in the country by this evening. Reports suggest that up to 2,000 US marines may eventually be deployed as well as Canadian troops.

The city was reportedly calmer overnight after a curfew was imposed but it is still a lawless place with rebels clashing with pro-government gunmen.

Mr Aristide, who was forced to resign yesterday, arrived in Central African Republic early today, under an asylum deal negotiated by France and the US.

He escaped Haiti after a two-week rebellion that has left the Caribbean nation in crisis and claimed more than 100 lives.

In what were his first public remarks since escaping Haiti, Mr Aristide told state radio: "In overthrowing me, they cut down the tree of peace. But it will grow again, because the roots are well-planted."

Less than one minute long, Mr Aristide's radio address said nothing about returning to Haiti. He thanked the authorities who had allowed him into the country and saluted Africa and its people, "because Africa is the father of us, Haitian men and women".

Unconfirmed reports said the marines already in Haiti were securing the airport in the capital, Port-au-Prince.

Last night the US president, George Bush, said the US was working with the international community to bring stability and that the marines were the lead element in a peacekeeping force.

"This is the beginning of a new chapter in the country's history," Mr Bush said.

The exiled Haitian leader's arrival in Africa solved the immediate mystery of his whereabouts after his weekend escape from Haiti, where rebels were moving on the capital, Port-au-Prince.

Their leader, the former police chief Guy Philippe, said last night "we don't intend to fight any more" and claimed his forces, seen on the edges of Port-au-Prince, would only move into the centre "for security". He welcomed the arrival of the marines.

There were reports of looting and attacks against police stations, petrol stations and banks, some of which were reportedly carried out by armed gangs who had been loyal to Mr Aristide. The men opened fire on at least one car filled with journalists.

Central African Republic's communications minister, Parfait Mbaye, confirmed Mr Aristide's arrival in the country, accompanied by a small entourage, though there are doubts he will stay there long.

Mr Mbaye said: "He's here with his wife and we've granted them asylum for the beginning, and then we'll see what happens."

Some reports indicated his ultimate destination might be South Africa but Pretoria was denying that it had invited him, or that this was likely.

Security guards at the airport in Bangui, the country's capital, said Mr Aristide's plane arrived at 0615 GMT. An Associated Press reporter saw what was apparently his plane sitting on the tarmac and a car belonging to Central African Republic's foreign minister going into the airport.

Mr Aristide was taken from there to the presidential palace. State radio said that Mr Aristide would stay in the country for "a few days" and possibly head to South Africa afterward. "I don't know that yet," Mr Mbaye said, asked where Aristide would go next. "But we will know it in the days to come."

The US, France and the west African nation of Gabon helped to negotiate Mr Aristide's exile, Mr Mbaye said.

Central African Republic - which is so cash-strapped it has been unable to pay many civil servants' salary for months - hopes that the international community will help to pick up the tab for Mr Aristide's stay. Earlier in Antigua, a senior Caribbean official said Mr Aristide had told him during a refuelling stop on the Caribbean island that he was bound for South Africa.

In Johannesburg, South Africa, a presidential spokesman, Bheki Khumalo, insisted his country had not offered Mr Aristide exile and that the ex-Haitian leader was not going there. "We are still not aware that he is coming here. I would have thought by now we would have known if he was," he said.

Western diplomats in Johannesburg also said they had no indication that Mr Aristide was heading to the country. The fleeing ex-president's plane was in Antigua for about an hour yesterday to refuel, officials said on condition of anonymity.

Several countries, including Panama and Costa Rica, said they would offer exile to Mr Aristide. It was not immediately clear why Central African Republic was his first stop in exile.

A former French colony, Central African Republic is one of Africa's most turbulent countries, having weathered nine coups and coup attempts since independence in 1960.

The current military ruler, Fran¸ois Bozize, took power in a March 2002 coup - himself ousting an elected but increasingly unpopular leader.

Mr 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 nation of 3.7 million people is habitually unable to make its public payroll, helping spark incessant strikes, unrest and coup attempts.