Haiti's Rebels Eye Capital After Seizing Second-Largest City

[Snazzy]

Feb 23, 2004

Haiti's Rebels Eye Capital After Seizing Second-Largest City
By Paisley Dodds
Associated Press Writer

CAP-HAITIEN, Haiti (AP) - Rebels overran Haiti's second-largest city in their biggest victory of a bloody uprising and said soon they will attack the capital in their campaign to oust President Jean-Bertrand Aristide.

As thousands of looters rampaged through Cap-Haitien Sunday, rebel leader Guy Philippe predicted a quick victory over Aristide's partisans, who sought to block any advance by erecting flaming barricades on the highway into the capital, Port-au-Prince, from the north.

"I think that in less than 15 days we will control all of Haiti," Philippe said at a Cap-Haitien hotel as he swigged from a bottle of beer.

Sources close to the government said several Cabinet ministers in Port-au-Prince were asking friends for places to hide in case the capital is attacked.

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http://ap.tbo.com/ap/breaking/MGAVRAY80RD.html

Sounded like there was a peace deal yesterday, or so all the major news said. That now appears (to me) to be a "watch this hand" misdirection. Coup belongs to some select group of Iran Contra plotters I think. We used to just call them felons before they got the neocon label.

[Snazzy]

1. BBC: Haiti rebels 'to attack capital'

Haiti rebels 'to attack capital'
Last Updated: Monday, 23 February, 2004, 07:31 GMT

Haitian rebels say they will march on the capital, Port-au-Prince, to try to oust President Jean-Bertrand Aristide.
The threat came after they overran the second city, Cap-Haitien.

The BBC's Stephen Gibbs says the armed militias would face a tougher battle in the capital than in the north, where they have swept out government forces.

The political opposition has just hours left to accept a peace plan which could be the last, best hope to end the crisis which has killed at least 50.

President Aristide, who agreed to the international initiative which would see his powers reduced, has appeared calm despite the rebel gains, opening the capital's annual carnival on Sunday.

But the rebels, who were not invited to the international talks and have no links to the political opposition, say they will continue their action until all of Haiti is "liberated".

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http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/3512411.stm

[Snazzy]

2. CNN: Rebels attack Haiti's second-largest city

Rebels attack Haiti's second-largest city
Reports: Police reinforcements sent; rebels withdrawing
Monday, February 23, 2004 Posted: 0554 GMT ( 1:54 PM HKT)

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (CNN) -- Haiti's government sent reinforcements to Cap Haitien after rebels seeking to oust President Jean-Bertrand Aristide moved into the country's second-largest city Sunday, storming police headquarters and freeing prisoners.

A government source told CNN the rebels had withdrawn from Cap Haitien by Sunday evening, but witnesses and journalists said gunfire could still be heard around the city.

Aristide told a crowd at a Carnaval celebration in Port-au-Prince that additional police would be sent to Cap Haitien, on the northern coast.

The government source said the reinforcements were on their way Sunday afternoon.

With a population of about 500,000, Cap Haitien is the Aristide government's last stronghold in northern Haiti.

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http://edition.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/americas/02/22/haiti.revolt/index.html

CNN seems to think differently.

[Snazzy]

3. Miami Herald: Key Haitian city falls as rebels aim for capital

Posted on Mon, Feb. 23, 2004

CRISIS IN HAITI

Key Haitian city falls as rebels aim for capital

Cap Haitien, the second largest city, is captured with little resistance as the country braces for possible violence in Port-au-Prince today.

BY PETER ANDREW BOSCH

[e-mail]


CAP HAITIEN, Haiti -- A mere 25 to 30 gunmen seized Haiti's second-largest city in a swift, one-hour firefight Sunday that sent police fleeing and handed President Jean-Bertrand Aristide the most stunning defeat of the 18-day-old rebellion.

Seven heavily armed pro-Aristide militants fleeing the attack hijacked a Tropical Airways plane waiting to take off from Cap Haitien for the Turks and Caicos Islands, and flew to the capital city of Port-au-Prince, officials said.

Another rebel attack overnight on a police station on the capital's northern outskirts -- the closest the rebels have come to Port-au-Prince in their push to topple Aristide -- left at least one wounded and fueled speculation that the rebels would next attack the capital today.

The stunning capture of Cap Haitien was the rebels' biggest prize yet in a fight that has left more than 60 dead and prompted a U.S.-backed international mission to intensify its efforts to force Aristide to surrender some of his power to his political opponents in hopes of easing Haiti's crisis.

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http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/8017587.htm