Spain to send troops to Haiti as conflict worsens

[seemslikeadream]

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) - Ex-soldiers who ousted President Jean-Bertrand Aristide in a deadly revolt yesterday said reinforcements are advancing on Haiti's capital to halt the violence that has killed at least 46 people.

The move threatens conflict with armed Aristide militants and UN peacekeepers.

The UN team will be bolstered Friday by a contingent of 200 Spanish marines who will leave from the Rota navy base, Spain's defence ministry said in a statement read yesterday. Spain's new Socialist government came under pressure to make new international peacekeeping commitments after withdrawing the country's 1,300 troops from Iraq as soon as it took power on April 7.

The Spaniards' responsibilities will include maintaining public order and humanitarian services. Once in Haiti, they will join a group of 150 members of a Morocco battalion.

Meanwhile, tensions have heightened in the Haitian capital of 2.5 million, which Tuesday had enjoyed one day of relative peace in two weeks of gunbattles and beheadings.

more
http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/html/20041013T220000-0500_67629_OBS_SPAIN_TO_SEND_TROOPS_TO_HAITI_AS_CONFLICT_WORSENS_.asp

[rooboy]

1. This can't be true...

the corporate media told me nothing about this, therefore it isn't happening.