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U.S. denies kidnapping Aristide

WASHINGTON (AP) - The Bush administration insisted March 1 that Haiti's exiled president was not kidnapped or strong-armed into fleeing, despite Jean-Bertrand Aristide's claims that the U.S. military forced him to leave

White House officials said Aristide left willingly and that the United States aided his safe departure. "He was not kidnapped. We did not force him onto the airplane. He went onto the airplane willingly, and that's the truth," U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell said.

But in an interview March 1, Aristide said: "No. I was forced to leave."

"They were telling me that if I don't leave they would start shooting and be killing in a matter of time," Aristide said. It was unclear whether Aristide meant that rebels or U.S. agents would begin shooting.

Aristide's supporters in the United States said the one-time U.S. ally told them he was being held against his will in the Central African Republic. Activist Randall Robinson said Aristide told him on the phone March 1 that he had been kidnapped at gunpoint by American soldiers and ousted in a U.S.-run coup d'etat.

But the foreign affairs minister of the Central African Republic, Charles Wenezoui, said, "He is a free man and the heavy security measures around the presidential palace are for his own security."

A senior White House official said that Aristide, on the ride to the airport, was philosophical about what was happening. Aristide "made clear that he believed what he was doing was in the best interest of Haiti and the Haitian people," said the official.

Shukan ST: March 12, 2004

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