More than 5,000 supporters of ousted President Jean-Bertrand Aristide marched through Haiti's capital, calling for his return and accusing the U.S. government of forcing his departure.

The demonstration Friday began in the hilltop slum of Bel Air and wound its way through neighborhoods near the presidential palace.

Protesters, many wearing T-shirts and caps with photos of Aristide, chanted "George Bush kidnapped Aristide," and "Mobilize for Aristide to return!"

Others played drums and cymbals, and held framed photos of Aristide, who left Haiti February 29 as rebels threatened to take the capital. Aristide, who has been granted temporary asylum in South Africa, has accused U.S. agents of kidnapping him - a charge U.S. officials vehemently deny.

More than two dozen U.S. Marines patrolled the march route Friday, and there were no reports of violence. Haitian riot police also were on hand.

Protesters said new presidential elections would not be legitimate if Aristide didn't come back and serve out his term. Aristide has said he wants to return one day but has said the conditions must be right.

"We can never go to elections without Aristide being returned," said Johnny Daris, 21, a mechanic among the marchers.

U.S.-backed interim Prime Minister Gerard Latortue has said legislative elections are to be held in September 2005 and presidential elections in November 2005.

"We cannot go to elections with those people" in the interim government, said Henri Bonnet, 40, an unemployed man in the march.

The Americas' poorest country has been in crisis since 2000, when Aristide's Lavalas Family party won legislative elections that observers said were flawed. The vote ultimately soured relations with the international community and led to the freezing of hundreds of millions of dollars in aid.

In the past year, Haiti became embroiled in violent clashes between Aristide's supporters and opponents.

Following Aristide's departure, the United States sent troops under a U.N. mandate and installed Supreme Court Chief Justice Boniface Alexandre as president.

Aristide was first flown on a U.S.-chartered jet to the Central African Republic. He later moved temporarily to Jamaica before leaving for South Africa on May 31.

At a meeting in Ecuador last week, the Organization of American States opened the way for an investigation into Aristide's ouster.

As the U.S.-led troops' mission concludes, a U.N. force is taking over this month. It will led by Brazilian troops, and is expected to include 6,700 peacekeepers and more than 1,000 international police.