The AP is reporting that President Aristide has left Haiti.
PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti – President Jean-Bertrand Aristide left Haiti on Sunday, bowing to pressure from a rebellion at home and governments abroad, his Cabinet minister and close adviser Leslie Voltaire told The Associated Press.
At least three other sources confirmed the information, including diplomats and a security aide.
An Associated Press reporter saw an unmarked white jet take off from Port-au-Prince’s airport Sunday morning, and Voltaire said Aristide was on board along with his palace security chief Frantz Gabriel.
All of which is interesting, because you wouldn’t have known it from CNN:
Aristide vowed Saturday not to leave office before his term expires in 2006, even as the rebels seeking to drive him out of power advanced on the capital, Port-au-Prince.
Departure is “out of the question,” Aristide said on state-run television. He predicted the chaos would be resolved and that Haitians would be back in their offices, carrying on business as usual, by Monday morning.
Now, I’m inclined to believe the AP report, mind you – but it’s odd that CNN isn’t keeping up with the Associated Press. Of course, I’m also still trying to figure out whether Arisitide’s departure will end up helping or hurting Haiti.
I think Haiti is f*cked no matter what happens.
My long-term crazy strategy would be to strengthen the Dominican Republic and its institutions, and hope that the benefits spill over into Haiti or that the DR establishes some kind of protectorate.
Ironic, btw, that the first place Columbus landed in the New Wordl hasn’t really advanced much since then, eh? Ironic, yes, but mostly just sad, sad, sad.
BTW, the Beeb says he’s peace out.
CNN’s Breaking News report to this effect was sent at 6:30am Central. Don’t know what’s responsible for the lag; maybe they weren’t able to confirm he was actually leaving?
As praktike said, Haiti is screwed either way.