Ousted Aristide Arrives in Africa, but Final Stop Is in Doubt

[Dover]

Ousted Aristide Arrives in Africa, but Final Stop Is in Doubt
By MICHAEL WINES

Published: March 1, 2004


OHANNESBURG, March 1 — Newly arrived in the impoverished Central African Republic, Haiti's ex-president, Jean-Bertrand Aristide, today assailed the rebels who ousted him from power on Sunday, saying that "in overthrowing me, they have chopped down the tree of peace, but it will grow again."

The government radio in Bangui, the republic's capital, said Mr. Aristide was being accommodated only for a few days, probably until he receives permanent asylum in South Africa.

But South African officials gave mixed signals as to their willingness to take in Mr. Aristide. And domestic critics of President Thabo Mbeki, one of Mr. Aristide's few international supporters, excoriated the government for even considering it.

Mr. Aristide's aircraft landed shortly after dawn in Bangui after a 13-hour overnight trip from Port-au-Prince, Haiti's capital and largest city.

In a brief radio statement after his arrival, Mr. Aristide portrayed himself as a victim of power struggles in his homeland, and predicted the return of popular rule in the tradition of Toussaint Louverture, the father of Haiti's independence movement two centuries ago....cont'd

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/03/01/international/africa/01CND-ARIS.html

[MiddleRiverRefugee]

1. Is he just trying to stay out of harm's way?

n/t