South Africa Denies Aristide is Behind Haiti Mayhem

South Africa Denies Aristide is Behind Haiti Mayhem

Business Day (Johannesburg)
October 19, 2004

THE South African government said yesterday it took "strong exception" to comments by Haitian interim Prime Minister Gerard Latortue that President Thabo Mbeki's granting of refuge to Jean-Bertrand Aristide allowed the ousted leader to sow discontent in his home country.

Latortue accused Aristide of fomenting the wave of violence, which is now gripping the Central American country, from his South African base. More than 61 people have died in the recent unrest.

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Over the weekend, Latortue was quoted by the BBC as saying: "No respectable president would allow a person in his territory to organise violence in another country." According to the BBC, Lartortue said: "Mr Mbeki is breaking international law."

A statement released yesterday by Foreign Affairs Deputy Minister Aziz Pahad said: "SA and indeed President Mbeki cannot be used as a scapegoat for failure by the interim Haitian authorities to bring about peace and stability in Haiti."

http://allafrica.com/stories/200410190336.html