Aristide fled to avoid bloodshed, alright. His own. They were going to have his head on a pointy stick. He had his chance and he blew it. He became just another power junkie. Now there'll be an interim government per the constitution while things calm down. We'll get some troops in there, get the food going again, and hopefully there are some decent men left in Haiti to run the government.
Within hours, Haitian Chief Justice Boniface Alexandre was named as his replacement as laid out in the constitution. But turmoil continued in the streets, with armed gangs looting the capital and rebels poised to advance from other towns.
Prime Minister Yvon Neptune read a statement by Aristide in which he said he resigned "to avoid bloodshed." With the rebels closing in on the sprawling capital, Port-au-Prince, many had feared a bloody battle for control between them and Aristide's militant supporters.
Speaking at a ceremony at Neptune's home, U.S. Ambassador James Foley said international military forces would "rapidly be in Haiti" and urged the rebels to lay down their arms.
Foley said Aristide departed at 6:15 a.m.. The Haitian consul in neighboring Dominican Republic said Aristide was probably traveling to Morocco, but Morocco said it would not grant him political asylum.
Unconfirmed media reports from Haiti said Aristide had been escorted to a private plane by U.S. military personnel. Some said he may be taken to Panama.
Posted by floridacracker at February 29, 2004 11:32 AM