Aristide Backers Arrested In Haiti

Haitian police arrested supporters of Jean-Bertrand Aristide, launching the crackdown as the ousted leader flew back to the Caribbean on a private jet from exile in Africa despite objections from U.S. and Haitian officials.

A U.S. Marine has been shot and wounded in Port-au-Prince, the first U.S. casualty of the Haiti peacekeeping mission, Staff Sgt. Timothy Edwards told The Associated Press on Monday.

The Marine was patrolling the Belair neighborhood, a stronghold of Aristide, when he was shot in the left arm with what was thought to be a small-caliber pistol, Edwards said.

That is the neighborhood where anger has been brewing among residents since Marines — under fire — shot and killed two men on Friday.

U.S. troops have been attacked several times and have shot and killed at least six Haitians in the past week.

The injured Marine has been evacuated to Jacksonville Memorial Hospital in Miami, though the wound was not life-threatening, Edwards said.

Officials detained at least six Aristide partisans Sunday for suspected involvement in criminal activities, opposition politician Evans Paul said. A police log book showed that among them were Harold Severe, a former deputy mayor of Port-au-Prince, and Jacques Nazaire, a former security chief at the National Palace. Police said they and others were detained at the station in suburban Petionville and then transferred elsewhere.

Police could not immediately be reached for comment.

Aristide's decision to head to the region has increased tensions in Haiti, where his followers plan more protests to demand the return of Haiti's first democratically elected leader.

Aristide was expected to arrive Monday afternoon in Jamaica for what officials there said would be a temporary visit to reunite with his two daughters while he seeks permanent asylum in a third country.

But the Haitian leader, speaking cryptically as he often does, indicated he has not abandoned his desire to return to govern Haiti.

"For the time being, I'm listening to my people," Aristide said before boarding the plane in the Central African Republic. "The more we listen to them, the more we serve them, the more we will know what to do at the right time... We all have to do what we can to promote peace."

Aristide has said he was forced out by American officials - a claim the Bush administration denies - as rebels who had overrun half Haiti were preparing to attack the capital, Port-au-Prince.

Meanwhile, U.S. and French troops are helping to restore order, and an interim prime minister is working to set up a transitional government under a U.S.-backed plan.

French soldiers on Sunday began patrolling La Saline, a gritty seaside slum that is an Aristide stronghold and where resentment and anger have been brewing since U.S. Marines - under fire - killed at least two people on Friday.

The Marines said the two carried guns, though no weapons were recovered. Residents said those killed were not armed or militant.

U.S. Marine Maj. Richard Crusan said the French presence was part of a normal rotation.

"French and U.S. Marines have both been patrolling throughout Port-au-Prince," he said. "It's not a change."

U.S. troops have been attacked several times and have shot and killed at least six Haitians in the past week, although Marines reported a peaceful Saturday night.

The French, who have not come under fire in Haiti, have an easier time communicating with Haitians, who generally understand only Creole or French. U.S. Marines have been shouting commands in English at Haitians. U.S. troops are also resented because of Aristide's allegations that he was kidnapped by Marines and forced to leave the country Feb. 29.

Interim Prime Minister Gerard Latortue has warned Aristide's return to the region could threaten a fragile stability. U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld told CNN that "the hope is that he will not come back into the hemisphere and complicate the situation."

Aristide is scheduled to stay eight to 10 weeks in Jamaica.

Jamaican officials said Aristide had been warned not to use the visit to promote his campaign to return to Haiti. The temporary asylum was offered to reunite Aristide and his wife, Mildred, with their two young daughters. Christine, 7, and Michaelle, 5, who had been sent for safety to New York City to the mother of Mrs. Aristide, who was born there.

The rebellion was started Feb. 5 by a street gang that used to terrorize Aristide opponents and was spread by former Haitian soldiers who seek to reinstate the country's disgraced and disbanded army. More than 300 people died before Aristide fled, according to estimates by The Associated Press and the Pan American Health Organization.

Aristide's departure was delayed for several hours Sunday while Central African President Francois Bozize decided whether to allow him to leave. Aristide said he believed Bozize had to consult with the three countries that had organized his exile in Bangui - the United States, France and Gabon.

Haiti's Interim Prime Minister Gerard Latortue spent the weekend making final decisions on his Cabinet and is expected to announce those appointments on Monday. He is to form a transitional government uniting former enemies from Aristide's Lavalas Family party and an opposition coalition.

"They are trying to get names that are acceptable to everybody," said Aristide Cabinet Minister Leslie Voltaire.
By Peter Prengaman and Ian James