Rebel uprising spreads to 11 towns in Haiti; toll rises to at least 40 killed

sfgate.com ^ | Monday, February 9, 2004 | IAN JAMES

[Destro]

An armed uprising spread to nearly a dozen towns in western and northern Haiti on Monday, the strongest challenge yet to President Jean-Bertrand Aristide. At least 40 people have been killed in what the government says is an attempted coup.

[Destro]

Very fluid situation: Two Haitian Towns Retaken

[The KG9 Kid]

Here come US Marines.

... For the 46th time.

[DrewsDad]

Prayers for the people of Haiti and a future leader that will govern wisely and fairly. I saw a few notes from missionaries in the country. The death toll I heard was 69.

[GeronL]

we should send all our liberal reporters... the war will be over because the reporters will have the largest army.

[InABunkerUnderSF]

But, But... Bill Clinton SAID that Jean Bertran Aristide was was the popular leader of the Haitian people and, and, HOW COULD THIS BE HAPPENING!!?

Obviously it's George Bush's fault.

(The preceding comments are courtesy of my upstairs neighbor, who KNOWS that Al Gore was robbed of the 2000 election - she(?) also contributed to the tag line below, though she(?) doesn't know it.)

[skr]

U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan said officials were watching developments "very closely."

From how far away?

Without giving specifics, he said "we will be stepping up our own involvement fairly soon."

As soon as the Haitians run out of bullets, machetes and anything else that might hurt a U.N. contingent.

[Bud Krieger]

White House spokesman Richard Boucher said Haiti's problems will be solved by dialogue, negotiation and compromise, not violence and retribution.

---

Huh, yeah. I think dialogue, negotiation and compromise have just been thrown out the window.

[BurbankKarl]

Perfect job for Koficup Annan

[OXENinFLA]

Haiti waited on Monday for the government to respond to an armed rebellion and local radio reported that fighting had broken out in one town between supporters and opponents of embattled President Jean-Bertrand Aristide. With rebels in control of Gonaives and Saint Marc north of Port-au-Prince, and Grand Goave and other towns to the southwest, the political opposition met to decide whether to align itself with the gunmen who are presenting Aristide with his most dangerous challenge in months of anti-government protests. (Reuters Graphic)

Looters scour the port in St. Marc, Haiti, for any merchandise they can find in shipping containers after the police station, courthouse and port were sacked and partially burned by an armed gang and its supporters on February 8, 2004. Embattled Haitian President Jean-Bertrand Aristide faced his most serious challenge in months of anti-government protests as an armed revolt spread to several more cities in the impoverished Caribbean nation. Photo by Reuters

People loot a container at the port of St Marc, 90 km (55 miles) north of Port-au-Prince, Haiti Sunday, Feb. 8, 2004. Hundreds of people looted shipping containers Sunday in this west coast town as rebels maintained control of several communities in the area, including a key Haitian city, in an escalating uprising to drive Haiti's president from power. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)

An anti Aristide armed rebel walks beside the corpse of a lynched police officer in Gonaives, Haiti, some 100 kilometers (62 miles) north of Port-au-Prince, Saturday, Feb. 7, 2004. Police clashed Saturday with rebels who have occupied this city for two days, and the insurgents promised to keep fighting until Aristide steps down. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)

An anti Aristide rebel beats on the corpse of a police officer with a machete in Gonaives, some 100 kilometers (62 miles) north of Port-au-Prince, Saturday, Feb. 7, 2004. Police clashed Saturday with rebels who have occupied this city for two days, and the insurgents promised to keep fighting until Haiti's embattled president steps down. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)

People look at the lynched body of a police officer who was dragged from a hospital in Gonaives, Haiti, some 100 kilometers (62 miles) north of Port-au-Prince, Saturday, Feb. 7, 2004. Police clashed Saturday with rebels who have occupied this city for two days, and the insurgents promised to keep fighting until Aristide steps down. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)

Men and boys turn over a Haitian police vehicle officers abandoned as they tried to flee Gonaives, Haiti, when they were attacked by armed rebels while trying to re-take control of the town on February 7, 2004. Photo by Reuters

A man pushes takes a television after shipping containers were looted in St Marc's Port, Haiti. (AP/Rodrigo Abd)

An unidentified man lies dead in the main street of Saint Marc, 45 miles west of Port-au-Prince, Haiti, after being allegedly shot and killed by Aristide supporters according to witnesses Monday, Feb 9, 2004. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)

[SparkieWalt]

Yes we do need to pray for the people of Haiti, I have been into Haiti two times trying to help the Christian Church. They truly need an honest and morale leader. The main problem they have is the overwhelming voodoo culture, and i have found that even the leaders of the Christian Church cannot be trusted. If you want to help them you have to go there and distribute your help and build the buildings yourself. The best thing that could ever happen to them is for America to take over that country it is their only hope. But that will never happen. I have been into other countries that are in the same condition but less exaggerated.
Most of these small countries are run by a mafia style goverment, and the people all want to come to America. This includes some western European counties too.

[CzarNicky]

Send in the French

[CzarNicky]

Send in the French

[Scenic Sounds]

Toussaint n'est pas oublié.

[section9]

No, don't send in the French. The Chirac government could not survive the ass-kicking that the Haitians would visit on the French Expeditionary Force.

Now that I think of it, let's send in the French.

Be Seeing You,

Chris

[alrea]

Love the headline from Reuters: "Violence Spreads in Haiti as Government Gangs Fight Back"

[AnAmericanMother]

But the government faced a fresh assault in the north where fighting erupted on the outskirts of Cap-Haitien, the country's second-largest city, which has remained relatively calm throughout a four-day armed insurrection. Rebels briefly seized the police station in Dondon, just outside the city.

Damn. We have friends in Cap-Haitien. I hope they're keeping their heads down.

[Dog Gone]

I'll bet we can get some really good deals on those vacation trips to Sandals in Haiti this week.