NEWS: Rebels Seize Cap-Haitien, Second-Largest City; Half of Country Now Under Rebel Control

Rebels are now proclaiming that they will have control of the entire country of Haiti in less than 15 days. The two week old rebellion whose goal is to remove Aristide from office, has claimed Haiti's second largest city of Cap-Haitien. Rebellion leader Buteur Metayer, on Thursday declared himself the president of liberated Haiti and rebel leader Guy Philippe said he was setting his sights on the capital, Port-au-Prince.

"We came in today and we took Cap-Haitien; tomorrow we take Port-au-Prince" the capital, boasted Lucien Estime, a 19-year-old who joined the popular rebellion from the hamlet of Saint Raphael, south of Cap-Haitien.

"Our mission is to liberate Haiti," he said.

The victory leaves more than half of Haiti beyond control of the central government. As that reality set in, panic began spreading Sunday in Port-au-Prince.
ap.tbo.com...


[Edited on 2-22-2004 by worldwatcher]