Exiled Aristide Urges Haitian Resistance

The ousted leader of Haiti, Jean-Bertrand Aristide, yesterday urged his followers to peacefully resist the "occupation" of his homeland and said he considered himself still president.

Raising the stakes in what could be the start of a campaign to regain his job, Mr Aristide denounced his rebel foes as drug dealers and terrorists and repeated claims that he was kidnapped by the US.

"This unfortunately has paved the way for occupation and we launch an appeal for peaceful resistance. I'm choosing my words carefully: for a peaceful resistance."

Speaking at his first press conference since being exiled to the Central African Republic last week, the former Roman Catholic priest appeared calm and composed. "I am the elected president and I remain the elected president. I am pleading for the restoration of democracy."

Mr Aristide's clarion call was expected to galvanise supporters but the emphasis on peaceful means may be lost amid the Caribbean nation's tumult. Aristide loyalists were blamed for a gun attack two days ago on a crowd celebrating his departure, leaving six people dead and 18 wounded.

The US has denied abducting Haiti's first democratically elected president, saying he voluntarily resigned and boarded a US plane to avert further bloodshed between his supporters and the rebels who appeared to be moving on the capital Port-au-Prince.

France, the former colonial power, joined the Americans in favouring his departure. If Washington and Paris hoped he would quietly fade away, Mr Aristide signalled yesterday that would not happen, making it clear he intended to remain a player.

Dressed in a blue suit and seated on a red chair, he told reporters he had been held captive in Port-au-Prince on February 28-29 before being driven to the airport which was under American control. "The fact is, there was a political abduction," he said.

Elected as a champion of the poor in one of the world's poorest countries, Mr Aristide's popularity waned amid accusations of corruption and thuggery.

Some of the rebels who took up arms against him were implicated in human rights abuses in former Haitian regimes but that did not stop jubilant crowds welcoming them.

They now control much of the country but in theory power resides with a former supreme court chief, Justice Boniface Alexandre, who has been appointed interim president.

Mr Aristide has been lodged in a crumbling palace in Bangui, capital of the Central African Republic, with his wife and a small retinue. Yesterday he rebutted reports that he was effectively a prisoner. He has access to a telephone and satellite television.

The authorities in Bangui, themselves impoverished and coup-prone, have said Mr Aristide is welcome to stay as long as he wants but have requested foreign aid to offset the cost.

In vain, they have asked him to stop criticising the US.

The Haitian ex-leader was vague about his next move. "Where I'm going will depend on the circumstances. For the moment, I am here, and I am very well."

The US secretary of state, Colin Powell, wanted South Africa to be the host. But he was rebuffed by President Thabo Mbeki, who as an ally of Mr Aristide reportedly did not want to legitimise the manner of his departure.

Mr Mbeki has been heavily criticised at home for backing controversial figures such as Mr Aristide and Zimbabwe's Robert Mugabe. It was thought the timing of events did not suit him, since the Haitian's arrival would have given ammunition to the opposition in the run-up to next month's general election.

The 53-member African Union said yesterday that Mr Aristide's removal from power was unconstitutional and urged African countries to grant him asylum. It also urged the United Nations to investigate the circumstances of his exile.