Haiti Rebels in Stand-Off with U.S.-Led Force

Wednesday, March 3, 2004
(1:07 PM ET)
By Jim Loney & Alistair Scrutton

Reuters Writers

Philippe declared himself "military chief" of Haiti's security forces on Tuesday, including the rebel forces and the Haitian National Police. The rebels, whose leaders include convicted murderer Louis Jodel Chamblain, forged a swift alliance with the police after routing them in a march through cities and towns in the north that began on Feb. 5. Washington is trying to create a council of a dozen prominent Haitians to organize early elections and says its forces will work to disarm the rebels. The State Department said on Tuesday the rebels had no role in the political process and should disband and go back to their homes.

dunno if the image will show, but...

A U.S. Marine light armored vehicle sits on the tarmac at Port-au-Prince airport as a commercial airliner stands behind, March 3, 2004. Some commercial flights began to operate after the airport was reopened for the first time since before the departure of Haitian President Jean-Bertrand Aristide.

Image Credit: Andrew Winning -- Reuters

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti -- Reuters
Rebels patrolled the streets of Haiti's capital while U.S. and other foreign forces held the airport and National Palace on Wednesday in an uneasy standoff three days after Haiti's president was ousted.

U.S. Marines had not begun street patrols of the capital despite a pledge to increase their presence after rebel leader Guy Philippe declared himself Haiti's military chief and his men spread out in Port-au-Prince frisking people for weapons.

"We have not been missioned to patrol as yet," Marine Staff Sgt. Timothy Edwards said in a briefing at the airport, where Marines slept in tents or in the open air on the tarmac.

With government ministers in hiding and no president at the palace, Prime Minister Yvon Neptune told Reuters Haiti was running "as best as it can at the moment."

"There is no legislature. The ministers are in hiding. I am in my office but my latitude to function is severely curtailed," he said in a telephone interview from his office. The United States is working with some prominent Haitians to build a new administration.

Neptune's comments reflected chaos in the government three days after elected President Jean-Bertrand Aristide was driven out by rebels, who seized the initiative on the city's decrepit streets in defiance of U.S. demands to disband and disarm.

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Dan