Military

DATE=2/22/2004

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=HAITI UNREST (L-ONLY)

NUMBER=2-313362

BYLINE=MICHAEL BOWMAN

DATELINE=PORT-AU-PRINCE

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: Rebels in Haiti have taken control of the country's largest city in the north. V-O-A's Michael Bowman reports from Port-au-Prince, the armed seizure constitutes a major escalation of a 17-day insurgency that has claimed more than 50 lives.

TEXT: Reports from Cap-Haitien say rebels bent on ousting President Jean-Bertrand Aristide overran the airport and then advanced on the city's center. Terrified residents fled as the insurgents drew near.

The city's police station was in flames and there were reports of gunfire and looting throughout the city. A group of armed men stormed the police station and freed about 250 prisoners

Police in Cap-Haitien barricaded streets in a futile attempt to slow the rebels, saying they did not have the manpower to defend the city.

The insurgents, who describe themselves as disillusioned one-time backers of President Aristide, have seized more than a dozen towns in central and northern Haiti since fighting began earlier this month.

Haiti abolished its armed forces 10-years ago.

The fighting lends new urgency to a U-S-backed international plan designed to end years of political strife in Haiti.

Saturday, President Jean-Bertrand Aristide accepted the proposal after meeting with envoys from the United States, Canada, the Organization of American States and Caricom. The plan calls for establishing a government of unity and reconciliation that would serve through the end of Mr. Aristide's term in office in 2006.

But Haiti's political opposition continues to insist it will only participate in the initiative if Mr. Aristide leaves office.

Misha Gaillard, who belongs to an opposition umbrella group, said his position has not changed since Saturday, when a four-hour negotiating session between the opposition and the international envoys failed to yield an agreement.

Mr. Gaillard spoke with V-O-A by telephone:

/// GUILLARD ACT IN FRENCH -- FADE UNDER ///

Mr. Gaillard said, fundamentally nothing has changed. The plan is 90-percent acceptable, but there are problems: it does not address the departure of President Aristide or how to deal with rebels in Haiti.

The opposition leader added that reconciliation in Haiti will only be possible if Mr. Aristide leaves office.

But that stipulation is not palatable to the authors of the proposal. Speaking with reporters after Saturday's fruitless meeting with Haiti's opposition, Canadian envoy Denis Caderre said the plan must be accepted in its entirety.

/// CADERRE ACT ///

We are not asking for the resignation of Aristide. What we have said is that if there is to be the full participation of international aid, you have to link it to the acceptance of the plan.

/// END ACT ///

Opposition leaders have promised to give a final verdict on the international proposal Monday. (SIGNED)

NEB/MCB/RAE