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CNN Live At Daybreak
Situation in Haiti Becomes Even More Dangerous
Aired February 26, 2004 - 05:01 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: The situation in Haiti becomes even more dangerous this morning. Insurgents threaten the capital city and looting is reported there. Pressure is now mounting for intervention from other countries and for the resignation of President Jean- Bertrand Aristide. Statements made by insurgent leader Guy Philippe appear contradictory. Philippe tells a news agency he wants to give peace a chance and then he tells a radio station, "We're going straight to the national palace to arrest Aristide." Some Haitians are trying to get out. The U.S. Coast Guard has intercepted two ships bound for the U.S. coast. A total of 142 Haitian refugees were aboard those vessels.
And the world is groping for a solution to the Haitian crisis. And a senior State Department official in Washington says President Aristide may have to go. The U.N. Security Council meets in emergency session today to try to keep the wheels from coming off.
Our senior U.N. correspondent Richard Roth has more on that for you.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
RICHARD ROTH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Diplomats agree there's a big problem going on in Haiti, but what to do about it remains unclear. The Security Council will meet at the request of Jamaica's U.N. ambassador to discuss the crisis. On Wednesday, the Security Council ambassadors issued a statement condemning the loss of life and the deteriorating humanitarian situation.
AMB. WANG GUANGYA, U.N. SECURITY COUNCIL PRESIDENT: The members of the Council call upon both the government and the armed rebels to respect human rights and to cease the use of violence to advance political goals. Those responsible for human rights violations should be held accountable.
ROTH: The Council did not discuss sending any U.N. peacekeepers there. France has its own five point plan for an immediate intervention by a civilian police force. But the U.S. is more reluctant.
JOHN NEGROPONTE, U.S. AMBASSADOR TO U.N.: Our view is that the best way to engage the international community is for their to be a political agreement based on the CARICOM and OAS plan and efforts continue to try and help bring that about.
ROTH: A senior U.N. official, briefing the Security Council on Haiti, said there is no quick fix to this problem and that the Haitian people will be needed to chart their own way out of this impasse.
Richard Roth, CNN, United Nations.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COSTELLO: And trying to head off what they call a human catastrophe, members of the Congressional Black Caucus urged President Bush to get involved in resolving the crisis in Haiti. The president made no commitment, but told the group during their White House meeting that he shares their concerns.
And there is more on our Web site on the rapidly developing crisis in Haiti and its repercussions elsewhere. Our address, cnn.com.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired February 26, 2004 - 05:01 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: The situation in Haiti becomes even more dangerous this morning. Insurgents threaten the capital city and looting is reported there. Pressure is now mounting for intervention from other countries and for the resignation of President Jean- Bertrand Aristide. Statements made by insurgent leader Guy Philippe appear contradictory. Philippe tells a news agency he wants to give peace a chance and then he tells a radio station, "We're going straight to the national palace to arrest Aristide." Some Haitians are trying to get out. The U.S. Coast Guard has intercepted two ships bound for the U.S. coast. A total of 142 Haitian refugees were aboard those vessels.
And the world is groping for a solution to the Haitian crisis. And a senior State Department official in Washington says President Aristide may have to go. The U.N. Security Council meets in emergency session today to try to keep the wheels from coming off.
Our senior U.N. correspondent Richard Roth has more on that for you.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
RICHARD ROTH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Diplomats agree there's a big problem going on in Haiti, but what to do about it remains unclear. The Security Council will meet at the request of Jamaica's U.N. ambassador to discuss the crisis. On Wednesday, the Security Council ambassadors issued a statement condemning the loss of life and the deteriorating humanitarian situation.
AMB. WANG GUANGYA, U.N. SECURITY COUNCIL PRESIDENT: The members of the Council call upon both the government and the armed rebels to respect human rights and to cease the use of violence to advance political goals. Those responsible for human rights violations should be held accountable.
ROTH: The Council did not discuss sending any U.N. peacekeepers there. France has its own five point plan for an immediate intervention by a civilian police force. But the U.S. is more reluctant.
JOHN NEGROPONTE, U.S. AMBASSADOR TO U.N.: Our view is that the best way to engage the international community is for their to be a political agreement based on the CARICOM and OAS plan and efforts continue to try and help bring that about.
ROTH: A senior U.N. official, briefing the Security Council on Haiti, said there is no quick fix to this problem and that the Haitian people will be needed to chart their own way out of this impasse.
Richard Roth, CNN, United Nations.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COSTELLO: And trying to head off what they call a human catastrophe, members of the Congressional Black Caucus urged President Bush to get involved in resolving the crisis in Haiti. The president made no commitment, but told the group during their White House meeting that he shares their concerns.
And there is more on our Web site on the rapidly developing crisis in Haiti and its repercussions elsewhere. Our address, cnn.com.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
