Aristide hits back from exile

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Tuesday, March 02, 2004

Aristide hits back from exile

Ousted Haitian President Jean Bertrand Aristide hit back at his opponents Monday from Bangui, capital of the Central Africa Republic, where Aristide arrived on the second step of his trip into exile.

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Ousted Haitian President Jean Bertrand Aristide hit back at his opponents Monday from Bangui, capital of the Central Africa Republic, where Aristide arrived on the second step of his trip into exile.

Aristide is believed heading into exile in South Africa but Johannesburg says it has yet to receive any formal exile request from Aristide.

Reports reaching here from Bangui said the former president in a radio address blamed his political opponents back home for "chopping down the peace tree" but said nothing about returning to Haiti.

"In overthrowing me, they cut down the tree of peace. But it will grow again, because the roots are well-planted," he said.

The former president who arrived in Bangui a day after he stepped down from his post under international pressure, thanked the leadership of the Central African Republic for welcoming him.

He also extended his gratitude to the authorities of his shelter country and showed respect to Africa and the people livingon this continent.

"Africa is the father of us Haitian men and women," he said.

Reports said the ousted president arrived in the Central African Republic with his wife and three others.

It was not clear if he planned to seek permanent refuge in the impoverished nation or was on a stopover to another African country.

An official from the state protocol department in Bangui said Aristide is expected to stay in Central Africa for "a few days" before traveling on to South Africa where he is to go into exile.

But in Johannesburg, South Africa, presidential spokesman BhekiKhumalo denied that Aristide was coming to his country.

"We are still not aware that he is coming here. I would have thought by now we would have known if he was," the spokesman said.

Foreign Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma was holding talks on Aristide's fate and South Africa would consider a request for political asylum from him, Deputy Foreign Minister Aziz Pahad said.

But South Africa has not yet received such a request, he added.

He also told reporters that any such request would have to be approved by the cabinet.

"If and when formal requests come we will consider any request.If and when this happens cabinet will have to take a decision," Pahad said.

South Africa, which backed Aristide, said earlier on Sunday that his forced departure from power did "not bode well for democracy" in the troubled Caribbean country.

In January, South African President Thabo Mbeki angered opponents by attending Haiti's 200th anniversary celebrations, saying Haiti was a natural ally of African nations.

Reacting to reports of possible amnesty for Aristide, South Africa's official opposition party, the Democratic Alliance, said it would oppose it.

Aristide resigned Sunday under mounting pressure from foreign nations, rebels and political opponents, and flew into exile aftera three-week rebellion that has wrecked the Caribbean nation.

He first flew to Haiti's neighbor Dominican Republic which has been a traditional first stop for ousted leaders of coup-plagued Haiti.

Several countries including Panama and Costa Rica said they would offer exile to Aristide.

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