Haiti's U.S.-backed advisory council named a former government official as the country's new prime minister Tuesday, according to two leading opposition politicians. The appointment of former foreign minister Gerard Latortue, also reported by Haitian radio stations, was a step toward forming a transitional government and eventually organizing elections to replace Jean-Bertrand Aristide, the exiled president.
| Without elections, how else will the thugs be able to re-commence the looting? |
Efforts to bring calm to this troubled Caribbean nation were ongoing. At least 130 people were killed in the rebellion; reprisal killings since Aristide's ouster have left at least 300 dead. A U.S. military officer said Wednesday that Marines will begin helping Haitian police disarm rebel groups. Marine Col. Charles Gurganus called on Haitians to tell peacekeepers who had weapons and to turn in arms. "The disarmament will be both active and reactive, but I'm not going to say any more about that," he said. Gurganus said Haitian police would lead disarmament efforts, but starting Wednesday, he said, peacekeepers would assist in getting "the weapons off the street."
| Remember, Haitians, "no better friend, no worse enemy." |
Officials said about 1,600 Marines were in Haiti, assigned to protect key sites, such as government buildings and the airport. Officials said they were not under orders to stop looting, even of American companies, nor could they use force to halt Haitian-on-Haitian violence. The advisory council was chosen to pick the new prime minister, who -- along with interim President Boniface Alexandre is to try to build a new government for Haiti. Latortue, who served as foreign minister in 1988 to former President Leslie Manigat, was set to replace Prime Minister Yvon Neptune. He still must formally accept the offer, and it was unclear whether he was in Haiti or in Florida, where he had been living. Neptune stayed in his post even after Aristide fled the country Feb. 29. Aristide opponents have demanded that Neptune be replaced.
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