Haitian Demonstration Turns Deadly

Shots were fired Sunday during a demonstration to demand that ousted President Jean-Bertrand Aristide be tried on charges of corruption and killings by armed militants. At least one person was killed, and several were injured.

As crowds gathered in front of the National Palace, witnesses said they saw pro-Aristide militants open fire. That could not immediately be confirmed. Peacekeepers said there were dead and injured, but refused to immediately give details.

The body of one demonstrator was left on a sidewalk in the central square. U.S. Marines helped treat at least six people who were injured in the violence, many bleeding profusely. Witnesses also saw two Haitian police officers who had been shot and injured.

At a nearby hospital, blood covered the floor where at least eight people were being treated.

After the shooting, a truck with speakers bolted to its frame paraded around the palace, blasting music. One man speaking over a truck loudspeaker shouted at the U.S. Marines: "People are dying every day in this country. You have to do something about it."

Haitian police and U.S. and French troops who had been guarding the demonstration route to prevent violence began patrolling the area to bring it back under control.

Pro-Aristide supporters had planned a joint demonstration Sunday but said they were offered no protection by the peacekeepers and were afraid of reprisal attacks from anti-Aristide activists. Their protest was rescheduled for Monday, although leaders said they would have to assess whether the police or peacekeepers offer the same protection provided Sunday.

"The Americans are only here to protect those who helped oust Aristide," said Ednar Ducoste, 23, an Aristide supporter. "If we had guns, we would be fighting against them right now."

Aristide released a statement Sunday through government officials in the Central African Republic, where he is in exile, saying he was "well-looked after" by his hosts and will personally address reporters at an unspecified time. Aristide has said the United States forced him from power, something U.S. officials deny.

When reporters asked Mildred Aristide if her husband was healthy, she nodded. Asked if the couple were prisoners, she sighed.

Earlier, Central African Republic security forces carrying assault rifles told press photographers and camera crews assembled in the room that they were prohibited from taking pictures.

Authorities here have said that if Aristide asks for long-term asylum in this unstable African nation, he will be allowed to stay.

South Africa has been mentioned as another possible permanent home for Aristide, with that country saying it's not opposed to taking him in, but has not received a formal request.

The United States, France and the West African nation of Gabon arranged Aristide's flight, Central African Republic authorities said. It remains unclear why the country was chosen.

Since his rebels overran the Central African Republic's capital in March 2003, President Francois Bozize has courted foreign governments and international lending agencies for help in stabilizing the chaotic country.

Although rich in gold, diamonds and other resources, Central African Republic nevertheless has habitually been unable to pay its civil servants, helping spark strikes, unrest and coup attempts.

The country has weathered nine coups or coup attempts since independence from France in 1960.

In Port-au-Prince, peacekeepers have removed barricades in central neighborhoods but have avoided Aristide strongholds, like La Saline and Cite Soleil.

"They come here with their missiles, and they do nothing for us," said Leo Bertrand, 27. "They kidnapped our president, and now they're here to hold us down."

Earlier, during Sunday's march in Port-au-Prince, demonstrators tore down a billboard featuring Aristide's face and the slogan: "Haiti is the mother of freedom," then carried it to the palace and set it on fire. Military helicopters circled overhead as black smoke billowed from the front gate.

Rebel leader Guy Philippe was hoisted onto supporters' shoulders as they chanted "Guy Philippe — hero! Aristide — zero!"

Philippe, a former Aristide police chief accused of coup-plotting, reiterated Sunday that he had no political aspirations. On Wednesday, he said his fighters would lay down their arms. There were no weapons in sight Sunday.

There were also cheers for Louis-Jodel Chamblain, an ex-soldier convicted in the killings of Aristide supporters. Like film stars, both Chamblain and Philippe were surrounded by autograph-seekers.

Rebels have refused to give up their weapons, despite Philippe's pledge. Marines have faced hostility - so far, only shouted insults - from armed Aristide militants furious over their leader's ouster and what they call "an occupation army."

Sunday's anti-Aristide crowd also took up a cry of "Help, yes. Occupation, no!"

It swelled quickly to thousands who ran and danced through the city, chanting, "Try Aristide! Jail Aristide!"

Businessman Liastaud Michel, 56, called the event "a victory march ... to celebrate. We want things to change."

A recently appointed seven-member "Council of Sages" met for a third day Sunday in the capital to choose a new prime minister. Officials said they hoped to have a decision by Tuesday.

One possibility is Lt. Gen. Herard Abraham, probably the only Haitian army officer to voluntarily surrender power to a civilian. Abraham succeeded ousted Gen. Prosper Avril in 1990 and immediately handed power to Haiti's Supreme Court justice. That allowed the transition that led to Haiti's first free elections in December 1990, which Aristide won in a landslide.

Another choice is Smarck Michel, a businessman who was Aristide's prime minister in 1994-1995 but resigned over differences in economic policy.

The U.S. Marine presence is the third American military intervention in Haiti, which has suffered under civilian and military dictators since a slave rebellion won independence from France in 1804.

The United States sent troops in 1915 who occupied the country for 25 years. In 1994, 20,000 troops came to end a brutal military dictatorship, halt an exodus of boat people to Florida and restore Aristide, who had been ousted in 1991.

Aristide was a wildly popular slum priest when he became Haiti's first freely elected leader in 1990. But his popularity diminished after he was re-elected in 2000. Haitians said he failed to improve their lives, condoned corruption and used police and armed supporters to attack his political opponents.