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 |  |
| News sections | World : News | Terms & conditions
SEARCH NEWS24

| Homepage
| World
| Iraqi Dossier
| News
| South Africa
| Sport
| Africa
| Sci-Tech
| Entertainment
| Finance
| Health
| Backpage
| Special Reports
| Oscars
| Elections 2004
| Budget 2004
| Aids Focus
| Zimbabwe
| Iraqi Dossier
| More
| Special Focus
| Assist24
| Auctions24
| Finance24
| Food24
| Smalls24
| Property24
| Health24
| Shopping24
| Subscribe24
| Women24
| Wheels24
| Weather
Cape Town | 19°C
Durban | 22°C
Johannesburg | 20°C
Click for more
| Lottery Numbers
3 | 9 | 20 | 27 | 31 | 44 | 7
Click for more
| Horoscopes
Select starsign:
| Afrikaans
| Beeld
| Die Burger
| Volksblad
| Rapport
| Sake
| Finansies & Tegniek
| Landbou
| Litnet
| Streekkoerante
| Partners
| Natal Witness
| City Press
| Finance Week
| Carte Blanche
| SASI
| SA Gateway
| Moneymax
| Community

Haiti capital faces anarchy 27/02/2004 22:32 - (SA)
Print article | email story
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