REPLAY President calls for international help, but not peacekeepers

(25 Feb 2004)
1. Aristide supporters outside presidential palace
2. Wide shot of President Aristide at podium during press conference
3. SOUNDBITE: (English) Jean-Bertrand Aristide, President of Haiti:
"The world sees this kind of tragedy, it is a genocide , it is a crime against humanity, and if you are all journalists from the world here in Haiti of course Haiti needs you. The people of Haiti needs you because the people of Haiti know the world can understand what is going on here."
4. Cutaway of reporters
5. SOUNDBITE: (English) Jean-Bertrand Aristide, President of Haiti:
"We have not lost half of the country. We have criminals, killers, terrorists acting in Le Tibonit, north, northwest, and the Central Plato area. Sometime they went somewhere, they killed people, burned police stations, burned houses, private and public, and then left. If the Haitian people so far are peaceful is because they are wise , it is not because they give up, it is because they are wise and they think the world will join them."
6.Wide shot of exterior of presidential palace
7.Various of Aristide supporters outside presidential palace cheering
STORYLINE:
President Jean-Bertrand Aristide appealed on Tuesday for the world to come to Haiti''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''s aid, warning that thousands of deaths and a wave of boat people could result from political chaos.
Aristide made the appeal as rebels threatened the capital and hours before opposition politicians were to give a formal response to a U.S.-backed peace plan.
Asked if he was calling for a military intervention, Aristide said he wanted the international community to strengthen Haiti''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''s police force, under an old agreement with the Organization of American States.
On Monday, Secretary of State Colin Powell telephoned officials from the opposition coalition and persuaded them to delay their response as the United States and others appeared to be making last-ditch efforts to win a political compromise.
The rebels have set up a base in Gonaives, Haiti''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''s fourth-largest city 70 miles northwest of Port-au-Prince, and rebel leader Guy Philippe said he was setting up a second one in Cap-Haitien, the northern port and second-largest city that was seized on Sunday.
But Philippe told The Associated Press that he has been using a strategy of seizing towns, systematically driving out enemies, winning over the population and moving to the next target. The rebels effectively control the north now and the central Artibonite District where more than one (m) million people live.
He also said in an interview with the AP that he does not want to install a military dictatorship but is seeking to re-establish the army that was disbanded after ousting Aristide in 1991.
An attack on Port-au-Prince was unlikely Tuesday, as Philippe said his fighters had spent the night searching in vain for government forces.
Aristide agreed to the peace plan Saturday, but his political opponents have stalled, insisting that only his resignation can guarantee peace. The plan would allow him to remain president with diminished powers, sharing with political rivals a government that would organize elections.
Western diplomats in Port-au-Prince confirmed Tuesday that Aristide had asked France for military intervention last week, when he publicly was asking only for more international assistance to strengthen his demoralized police force.
Find out more about AP Archive: www.aparchive.c...
Twitter: / ap_archive
Facebook: / aparchives ​​
Instagram: / apnews
You can license this story through AP Archive: www.aparchive.c...