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C B C . C A N e w s - F u l l S t o r y : Crowds march to support Aristide Last Updated Fri, 05 Mar 2004 21:03:10
PORT-AU-PRINCE, HAITI -
Thousands of supporters of Jean-Bertrand Aristide gathered in the
Haitian capital Friday, calling for the return of the exiled president.
Many in the crowd named the leaders of Canada, the United States and
France for Aristide's exit.
"Why, George Bush, also Canada, did they take the president?" one man
asked.
At one point during the demonstration at the gates of the presidential
palace, U.S. soldiers pointed their guns at the crowd. The demonstrators
also marched past the U.S. and French embassies.
It's the kind of situation Canadian soldiers could soon face. Defence
Minister David Pratt announced Friday 425 Canadian soldiers will be sent
to Haiti for a three-month deployment.
There are already about 100 Canadian soldiers in Haiti, along with 1,000
U.S. troops and roughly 120 Chilean soldiers.
Earlier Friday, crowds rioted in the south part of the city, looting and
burning a factory.
Aristide left Haiti last Sunday. He alleges he was removed in a U.S.-led
coup, but American officials say he left of his own accord.
Written by CBC News Online staff
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