news24 . assist24 . auctions24 . finance24 . food24 . health24 . property24 . shopping24 . smalls24 . subscribe24 . wheels24 . women24
Weekend diary
With February coming to a close, this weekend is filled with 'now or never' opportunities.
Property24 Gallery
Looking for that dream home? Find it now in Property24's latest gallery.
My home page | FAQs on Sign Me In
   World : News Terms & conditions  
SEARCH NEWS24
 
  Homepage
  World
Iraqi Dossier
News
  South Africa
  Sport
  Africa
  Sci-Tech
  Entertainment
  Finance
  Health
  Backpage
Oscars
Elections 2004
Budget 2004
Aids Focus
Zimbabwe
Iraqi Dossier
More
Assist24
Auctions24
Finance24
Food24
Smalls24
Property24
Health24
Shopping24
Subscribe24
Women24
Wheels24
Cape Town 19°C
Durban 22°C
Johannesburg 20°C
Click for more
3 9 20 27 31 44 7
Click for more
Select starsign:
Beeld
Die Burger
Volksblad
Rapport
Sake
Finansies & Tegniek
Landbou
Litnet
Streekkoerante
Natal Witness
City Press
Finance Week
Carte Blanche
SASI
SA Gateway
Moneymax
Community

Haiti capital faces anarchy
27/02/2004 22:32  - (SA)  

Related Articles
  • Looting and killings in Haiti
  • Haiti's Aristide won't quit
  • US catches 500 Haitians at sea
  • Rebels take third Haitian city
  • Aristide's former friends turn
  • Aristide 'a drug lord'

  • Port-au-Prince - A leader of Haitian President Jean-Bertrand Aristide's People's Organisations (OP) and two other people were found murdered in a Port-au-Prince suburb on Friday, as thugs terrorised the city, placing it on the brink of anarchy.

    The three victims were found in the suburb Petion-Ville, Radio Metropole reported. Members of OP announced after the bodies were found that they would not allow anyone to enter or leave the suburb.

    Armed thugs patrolled the streets, wearing anything from ski masks, riot-gear helmets or garbage bags over their heads and toting their pistols and old army rifles. Foreign journalists were pulled over by the so-called Chimeros and held at gunpoint.

    "This is my weapon to defend five years," Fritz Jerome, an Aristide supporter brandishing an axe and wearing a ski mask, told Deutsche Presse-Agentur, dpa. He was referring to the five years Aristide was elected to serve.

    Numerous trucks loaded with dozens of thugs drove through this desperate city, often pointing their weapons at bystanders. Mobs of Aristide supporters greeted them enthusiastically, flashing the "five-finger" sign that has become a symbol for them.

    Many stores remained closed, while huge garbage piles and flaming road barricades blocked intersections. Some Aristide supporters blamed the international community for failing to stop the rebels, who have taken over vast parts of the country and are believed to be marching toward Port-au-Prince.

    "Bush does not respect democracy in Haiti," Fritz Jerome said. "Why isn't the international community condemning the terrorists that are burning our police stations?"

    The Caribbean nation has been on the brink of civil war in the past weeks. The opposition, which denies links with the rebels, has accused Aristide of gross human rights violations and abuse of power. Armed government supporters have attacked demonstrators and foreign journalists. Aristide has called the rebels terrorists who were trying to stage a coup.

    Meanwhile, 76 refugees who were intercepted before they made it to Florida were returned to Port-au-Prince on Friday. Most of them were from St Marc, north of the capital. Their houses were burned down when rebels took over the city, one said.

    "We are not sure if our families are alive or dead," Jean Wispaul, a refugee, told dpa. "We lost everything we had."

    They had no means or money to get back to their home city, Wispaul said, before leaving the port by foot carrying his suitcase. The United Nations and humanitarian agencies operate on a limited schedule in Haiti because of security reasons.

    There were also reports of other killings in the city, but it was not possible to confirm them independently.

    Firefights broke out in Les Cayes as supporters of Aristide arrived early on Friday to take back the southwestern city, eyewitnesses from there reported. Rebels had seized Haiti's third-largest city the night before.

    Edited by Tisha Steyn


     Discussion Forums |  Newsletters |  Photo Galleries |  Earlier stories 

      Breaking News
  • 'Aristide welcome in Panama'
  • Iraq's Swiss millions
  • Asmal not target of shooting
  • Fourth day of Test abandoned
  • Men caught for shooting at kids
  • Saddam, others 'loot oil plan'
      Find
    Internet Casino
    Online Insurance
    Online Shopping
    Bingo
    Cinema Tickets
    Event Tickets
    Friends
    UK Lottery
    Love
    Home loans
    New or used cars
    Restaurants
    Leap Year specials
    Faster internet
    News24 on DStv
      Quick links
    Picture galleries
    Discussion forums
    Newsletters
    My home page
    Terms&conditions
    About News24
    Advertise here
    E-mail us

    About News24 | Advertise on News24 | Contact us
    DIAL 0821 NEWS (0821 6397) to get the latest breaking news by phone.
    Back to top