February 26, 2004

MIAMI -- A freighter with 22 Haitians on board was intercepted by the Coast Guard off the coast of Miami Beach on Wednesday, hours after President George W. Bush urged Haitians not to flee their homeland despite escalating violence from a rebellion..

A Coast Guard lieutenant said the 200-foot ship, called the "Margo" and registered in Panama, had 29 people on board but had not been boarded by the Coast Guard.

The Coast Guard would not confirm reports that the boat had been hijacked or that the Haitians are seeking asylum.

Earlier Wednesday, Bush repeated the U.S. policy that it will turn back any Haitian refugees trying to reach American shores.

The uprising to remove President Jean-Bertrand Aristide has now killed 70 people, including 40 police officers, and captured half the Caribbean country, which is about 650 miles southeast of Miami.

Guy Philippe, the leader of Haiti's rebellion, said Wednesday his forces are ready to march on the capital after capturing Haiti's second-largest city, Cap-Haitien, last week. Militants loyal to Arisitide have set up flaming barricades on roads leading into Port-au-Prince.

But Philippe told The Associated Press his forces will hold off if Aristide will resign, saying he wants to "give a chance to peace."

Philippe also said his troops aren't sure what to make yet of proposals for international peacekeepers to enter the country, as called for by France on Wednesday. He said his troops won't attack international troops if they "do not attack the Haitian people."

The rebel leader said if peacekeepers help "to remove Mr. Aristide, they will be welcome."

Philippe said his force has grown from a few hundred to 5,000 with new recruits and more ex-soldiers joining the uprising.


France Calls For International Force

French Foreign Minister Dominique de Villepin issued a statement calling for the "immediate" dispatch of an international civilian force to restore order in Haiti.

The statement also said Aristide was to blame for the violence in Haiti.

The statement, while accusing of Aristide of holding "grave responsibility" for the violence, stopped short of an outright demand for his resignation.

France also wants human rights observers sent to Haiti.

Meanwhile, foreigners -- some guarded by U.S. Marines in the Caribbean nation to secure the American Embassy -- tried to flee Haiti as looting erupted in the capital. Marines also escorted a convoy of U.N. personnel after the world body ordered all nonessential staff to leave the country.

http://www.local6.com/news/2874904/detail.html