Former judge officially sworn in as new president in Haiti

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Tuesday, March 09, 2004

Former judge officially sworn in as new president in Haiti

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Haiti's interim president Boniface Alexandre was officially sworn in Monday as temporary leader in place of Jean Bertrand Aristide, who resigned and fled into exile on Feb. 29, amid a new wave of looting sweeping the capital Port-au-Prince, reports reaching Havana said.

In his first presidential speech, Alexandre, the former SupremeCourt chief, appealed for "national reconciliation, the establishment of a climate of peace and security for all and an emergency plan to counter hunger and poverty and to improve health."

He added the reestablishment of security and the urgent launch of a humanitarian security plan were his primary objectives.

Under the constitution, Alexandre must organize presidential elections in 45 to 90 days and he pledged to do so, according to reports from Port-au-Prince.

Alexander promised "the organization of good elections that will allow the Haitian people to choose their representatives and leaders."

Besides, he is due to pick a new prime minister in the next 24 hours. Current prime minister Yvon Neptune did not attend the ceremony for security concerns.

He had been sworn in as president at closed doors last Feb. 29 after the United States forced Aristide into exile in the Central African Republic.

Monday's ceremony went ahead at the presidential palace, guarded by US troops, in the presence of Yvon Feuillet, president of the National Assembly, senior government officials, the new chief of police, Leon Charles, and opposition representatives.

While the leader was sworn in, a mob looted the industrial parknear Port-au-Prince's airport. Thus the city remained on edge as gangs armed with machetes threatened passenger cars and reporters.

On Sunday, six people were killed and 34 wounded during a demonstration celebrating Aristide's ouster. US forces deployed inHaiti announced one of the dead was a man they shot after he attacked them.

The United States and France dispatched military effectives to restore order in Haiti and US authorities said Boniface Alexandre's appointment was very important for the Haitian people.

From his exile in the capital of the Central African Republic Bangui, Aristide claimed "I am and continue to be the elected president" of Haiti. In front of reporters and local officials of the Foreign Ministry of the host nation, he urged Haitians to launch a "pacific resistance to restore constitutional order."

"I cannot explain how today the same murderers, the same criminals that caused the death of more than 5,000 people in Haitiare used by an invisible hand to sink my country in sadness," the former president stated.

Aristide charged days ago that US military effectives of kidnapped and forced him on Feb. 29 into exile in the Central African Republic.

Source: Xibhua

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