French troops on Sunday replaced U.S. Marines patrolling a slum stronghold of exiled leader Jean-Bertrand Aristide, where the Americans - under fire - killed two people and angered residents. So far, no demonstrations were planned in the capital Port-au-Prince, where people wearing their Sunday best filled churches and hymns wafted in the air. "We pray that a spirit of commerce returns to the country, and we pray that our community can now be based on justice and freedom," the Rev. Chancy Crierlain told hundreds of parishioners at the city's Roman Catholic cathedral.
| "But this is Haiti, so you'd best take cover!" |
Aristide, who fled to the Central African Republic on Feb. 29, was expected to leave that asylum later Sunday for temporary exile in neighboring Jamaica, a prospect that has raised tensions in Haiti and prompted his followers to threaten more protests demanding his restoration as their democratically elected president. A five-member delegation of American and Jamaican officials, including Rep. Maxine Waters, D-Calif., was to fly with Aristide in a chartered plane to Jamaica, where he will meet his daughters. They had been sent to New York City days before Aristide fled.
| The choice (and remember, death is not an option): bring Aristide to the US or leave Maxine Waters in Haiti? |
U.S. Ambassador to Haiti James Foley said Saturday that "Jamaican authorities are certainly taking on a risk and a responsibility" by accepting Aristide. Jamaican officials say he will only stay eight to 10 weeks until he finds a new home. Many countries appear reluctant to enter into the diplomatic entanglement of hosting Aristide, who has claimed the United States forced him from power.
| Get ready for a long stay, mon! |
On Sunday, French soldiers patrolled La Saline, where residents have not had electricity or water since Aristide's flight and mounds of trash block the streets. One young French trooper, who identified himself only as Sgt. Jean-Michel, said his group had just come from Ivory Coast and had more experience in peacekeeping than the Americans. "I'm afraid things could get bad for the Americans. They have sensitive fingers on the trigger," he said. "We're more relaxed under fire."
| "We just zeet there and take it!" |
The chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. Richard Myers, arrived Saturday and visited U.S. troops at their barracks, shaking hands with Marines. But he did not talk with Haitian officials. He said the United States would not take sides in Haiti, but warned the Marines had the right to defend themselves. |