HAITI: Haiti's beleaguered police chief imposed a curfew in the capital city of Port-au-Prince yesterday as the appointment of an interim president, Mr Boniface Alexandre, was followed by an outburst of looting.
Mr Alexandre, president of Haiti's Supreme Court, was sworn into office on Monday for the second time in a week, this time guarded by foreign troops.
Mr Leon Charles, the recently appointed police chief, admitted that the country's second city, Cap Haitien, was "out of control" as paramilitary thugs patrolled the streets and imposed their own version of law and order.
Members of the recently appointed "Council of Sages" remained behind locked doors yesterday as they attempted to name a new prime minister to co-ordinate the 90-day transition period until fresh presidential elections are held.
The three favourite candidates are a former prime minister, Mr Smarck Michel, who parted ways with the former president, Mr Jean Bertrand Aristide over differences in economic policy; retired Lieut Gen Herard Abraham, the only Haitian army officer to surrender power to a civilian; and Mr Gerard Latortue, a former foreign minister.
President Alexandre, a reluctant appointee, was sworn into office to the sound of jeering coming from followers of Mr Aristide, who was forced out of office last week. The ceremony was witnessed by the US and French ambassadors to Haiti, along with Mr Aristide's former prime minister, Mr Yvon Neptune, who remains in his post despite handing in his notice last week.
Supporters of the ousted president, who is exiled in the Central African Republic, gathered outside the presidential palace and chanted "Aristide or death!" but made no attempt to interrupt the proceedings. Mr Aristide's lawyer asked the US attorney general to investigate what he called the kidnapping of the president and a coup in Haiti, as a first step to returning him to power.
The UN launched an urgent appeal for $35 million for emergency needs over the next six months and urged world governments to learn from past mistakes in Haiti and commit to help its people overcome political instability and poverty. - (Reuters)