France seeks international force to quell Haiti chaos

[papau]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/france/story/0,11882,1156412,00.html
France seeks international force to quell Haiti chaos

Jon Henley in Paris and Julian Borger in Washington
Thursday February 26, 2004 The Guardian

France last night called for an "immediate" international civilian force to restore order in Haiti and help stem the poverty-stricken Caribbean state's slide into chaos.

"This force would be charged with assuring the restoration of public order and support actions in the field of the international community," the foreign minister, Dominique de Villepin, said in a statement. "It should have the support of a government of national union."

Paris was highly critical of the embattled Haitian president, Jean-Baptiste Aristide, but did not call for his resignation. "He bears grave responsibility for the current situation," Mr de Villepin said. <snip>

France has said that as long as the plan gets UN backing, it is prepared to help form such a multinational police force. A ministry spokesman said one possibility would be an international squad of some 250 civilian officers with a brief to help the overwhelmed local police quell violence, distribute aid and restore public confidence in the political process. <snip>


State department officials said Colin Powell, the secretary of state, had contacted his Mr de Villepin to express support for a French effort to convene separate meetings in Paris with Mr Aristide and opposition leaders in the next few days.

[BonjourUSA]

1. What are we going to do in this galley ?

Powell seems to say : "Go ahead and take the lead. There are mines"