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CNN Live At Daybreak
In Haiti, Unrest, Violence Escalating
Aired February 18, 2004 - 05:13 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: In Haiti, unrest and violence is escalating between rebel forces and police. The government is asking for help from the international community.
CNN's Lucia Newman has more from the capital, Port-au-Prince.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
LUCIA NEWMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): In rebel controlled Gonaives, once staunch followers of President Jean-Bertrand Aristide celebrate what they see as his imminent resignation. The charred remains of the local police station show just who is in control now -- a rebel group whose leader says he's turned his guns against Aristide, whom he accuses of murdering his brother. And he is well armed.
BUTR METAYAR, GONAIVES REBEL LEADER: Today I am going to see how many guns I've got with my (UNINTELLIGIBLE) because every day, every day my people get the guns, every day, every single day.
NEWMAN: The guns also come from across the border, from the Dominican Republic, brought by exiled former paramilitary and army leaders. Tuesday night, they overran the town of Ponce in northeastern Haiti, torching the police station and killing three officers.
Saying they're outgunned, the government is appealing for international help.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We want a real solidarity.
NEWMAN: While disenchanted with Aristide, whom many see as a despot, Washington is calling for a political solution to the crisis amid fears more violence will trigger a flood of Haitian boat people to Florida.
JAMES FOLEY, U.S. AMBASSADOR TO HAITI: We will not recognize any government in Haiti that comes to power by force of arms.
NEWMAN (on camera): In the capital, the situation for now remains calm. But there's serious concern that unless the international community puts pressure on all sides to negotiate, rebel leaders could well make good on their vow to make the capital their next target.
Lucia Newman, CNN, Port-au-Prince, Haiti.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
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 18, 2004 - 05:13 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: In Haiti, unrest and violence is escalating between rebel forces and police. The government is asking for help from the international community.
CNN's Lucia Newman has more from the capital, Port-au-Prince.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
LUCIA NEWMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): In rebel controlled Gonaives, once staunch followers of President Jean-Bertrand Aristide celebrate what they see as his imminent resignation. The charred remains of the local police station show just who is in control now -- a rebel group whose leader says he's turned his guns against Aristide, whom he accuses of murdering his brother. And he is well armed.
BUTR METAYAR, GONAIVES REBEL LEADER: Today I am going to see how many guns I've got with my (UNINTELLIGIBLE) because every day, every day my people get the guns, every day, every single day.
NEWMAN: The guns also come from across the border, from the Dominican Republic, brought by exiled former paramilitary and army leaders. Tuesday night, they overran the town of Ponce in northeastern Haiti, torching the police station and killing three officers.
Saying they're outgunned, the government is appealing for international help.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We want a real solidarity.
NEWMAN: While disenchanted with Aristide, whom many see as a despot, Washington is calling for a political solution to the crisis amid fears more violence will trigger a flood of Haitian boat people to Florida.
JAMES FOLEY, U.S. AMBASSADOR TO HAITI: We will not recognize any government in Haiti that comes to power by force of arms.
NEWMAN (on camera): In the capital, the situation for now remains calm. But there's serious concern that unless the international community puts pressure on all sides to negotiate, rebel leaders could well make good on their vow to make the capital their next target.
Lucia Newman, CNN, Port-au-Prince, Haiti.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
