Aristide Flees Haiti

Haiti's beleaguered President Jean-Bertrand Aristide resigned and flew into exile Sunday.

Gunfire crackled throughout the capital as it fell into chaos, and the United States said international peacekeepers — including Americans would be deployed soon.

The head of Haiti's supreme court said he was taking charge.

A key rebel leader, meanwhile, said he would be sending his forces to the capital soon "to give security to the people."

U.N. diplomats said key Security Council members would begin to talk Sunday about a resolution to authorize an international force for Haiti, which erupted into violence three weeks ago when rebels began driving police from towns and cities in the north.

Though not aligned with rebels, the political opposition had pushed for Aristide to leave for the good of Haiti's 8 million people, angered by poverty, corruption and crime. The uprising — only the most recent violence in this Caribbean nation — killed at least 100 people.

Prime Minister Yvon Neptune told a press conference that Aristide resigned to "prevent bloodshed."

At the same news conference, U.S. Ambassador James Foley insisted the United States had not asked Aristide to resign. France, Haiti's former colonial power, had suggested that Aristide step down.

"President (Jean-Bertrand) Aristide made a decision for the good of the Haitian people," Foley said. "International military forces including U.S. forces will be rapidly arriving in Haiti to begin to restore a sense of security."

There were conflicting reports on where Aristide was headed. Radio reports on the island of Antigua said Aristide's jet had refueled there en route to South Africa, but officials in Johannesburg said there had been no recent contact with Aristide nor an offer of asylum.

Other reports said Aristide would go to Morocco, Taiwan or Panama. But officials in Taiwan said there were no plans to shelter the ousted Haitian leader, and Morocco said he was not welcome. Panamanian officials would not address the issue.

Three hours after Aristide's departure, Supreme Court Justice Boniface Alexandre declared at a news conference that he was taking over as called for by the constitution. He urged calm.

"The task will not be an easy one," Alexandre, a former jurist in his 60s with a reputation for honesty. "Haiti is in crisis. ... It needs all its sons and daughters. No one should take justice into their own hands."

Despite Alexandre's declaration that he was in charge, the Haitian constitution calls for parliament to approve him as leader and the legislature has not met since early this year when lawmakers' terms expired.

Port-au-Prince was in chaos Sunday as news emerged of the president's departure.

Angry Aristide supporters roamed the streets armed with old rifles, pistols, machetes and sticks. Some fired wildly into crowds on the Champs de Mars, the main square in front of the National Palace. Looters pillaged supermarkets and pharmacies.

Foley said he was confident leaders of the popular rebellion that helped force Aristide's departure would lay down arms. "I do think we saw a certain willingness on their part to allow an orderly transition," he said.

Half the country is in the hands of the rebels, including former soldiers of the army that Aristide disbanded during a political career tainted by alleged fraud.

On Saturday, the United States urged Aristide supporters to cease looting and robbing in Port-au-Prince and rebel fighters to halt their march toward the capital.

A key rebel leader, Guy Philippe, said his forces would head for the capital. He was at a rebel base north of the northern port city of Cap-Hatien, where he also said he hoped no country would give refuge to Aristide.

Speaking for the White House, a senior Bush administration official said Aristide's departure was the right decision and in the best interests of the Haitian people, reports CBS News White House Correspondent Mark Knoller. The U.S. has pledged to support an international security force to restore order in Haiti as part of a political solution to the unrest.

France, Haiti's former colonizer, and the United States, which sent 20,000 troops to restore Aristide after a coup in 1994, had suggested he step down for the good of his Caribbean nation of 8 million people.

"With Aristede out of the country, the tough negotiations begin," said CBS News Foreign Affairs Analyst Pamela Falk, who was staff director of the Congressional subcommittee during the last Haiti crisis. "The priority will be to keep Haiti a constitutional democracy with the former government and opposition represented, with new elections to follow.

"At this point in time, there is not a lot of clarity what next steps are," Falk added. "Still to be decided are who is in charge, when elections will be held, and if an international military force will be needed to restore order."

First elected president in 2000, Aristide was ousted in 1991 by a military coup but was restored to power in 1994 after the United States sent 20,000 troops to Haiti. A close associate became president in 1996 and Aristide won reelection in 2000.

But he soon came under heavy criticism, with critics charging that he authorized violence against his political opponents, condoned rigged legislative elections and proved ineffective in improving living standards for residents of the hemisphere's poorest nation.

This time, Aristide was cornered by a rebellion that began Feb. 5 and left him in control of little more than the capital of Port-au-Prince, which has been roiled by violence and looting in recent days.

Late Saturday, the White House increased the pressure on Aristide, whose rule has been marked by violence, corruption and poverty.