Home>>World
Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Thursday, February 26, 2004

US Coast Guard intercepts Haitian refugee

The US Coast Guard intercepted a Haitian freighter in waters off Florida on Wednesday and detained the seven crew members and 21 Haitian refugees on board.


PRINT DISCUSSION CHINESE SEND TO FRIEND


The US Coast Guard intercepted a Haitian freighter in waters off Florida on Wednesday and detained the seven crew members and 21 Haitian refugees on board.

Images broadcast by CNN showed some people raising their hands as the coast guards boarded the freighter, named "Margot" and registered in Panama.

It is not immediately clear whether the detained Haitians will be returned to the crisis-stricken Caribbean country.

The incident took place hours after President George W. Bush declared that the United States would turn away any Haitian refugees trying to reach US shores.

"I have made it abundantly clear to the Coast Guard that we will turn back any refugee that attempts to reach our shores. That message needs to be very clear as well to the Haitian people," Bush said after a meeting with visiting Georgian President MikhailSaakashvili.

Bush strongly urged Haitians to stay at home until a peace agreement is reached.

White House spokesman Scott McClellan said at a news briefing on Tuesday that the United States would stop and return Haitian boat people to their country.

"We have a plan in place to stop any boats. And our position isvery clear that they will be returned to their country from which they departed, absent any specific protection concerns. That has been our policy and that remains our policy," McClellan said.

Embattled Haitian President Jean-Bertrand Aristide called for international help on Tuesday, warning that a rebel uprising couldlead to thousands of deaths and a wave of boat people. The opposition has rejected a US-backed international peace plan and demanded that Aristide step down.


Questions?Comments? Click here
    Advanced






Haiti rebels 'going to arrest Aristide'

Haiti plunged into uncertainty after rejection of peace plan

US to turn away boat people from Haiti: spokesman





 


"Keep pace with the times" becomes ad title on NY Times ( 4 Messages)

China suspends crude oil exports to Japan ( 11 Messages)

Alstom, front runner in China's high-speed railway bidding ( 4 Messages)

Experts: China may raise renminbi interest rate ( 4 Messages)

Chinese language losing popularity in Singapore ( 24 Messages)



Copyright by People's Daily Online, all rights reserved