Aristide leaves Jamaica for "temporary home" in S.Africa

Ousted Haitian president Jean-Bertrand Aristide left Jamaica on Sunday for what he said is his "temporary home" in South Africa, according to reports reaching here from Jamaican capital Kingston.

Aristide boarded a South African government jet along with his wife, Mildred, and two young daughters and their bodyguards.

The former president said South Africa will be his "temporary home" until he can return to Haiti.

Aristide fled Haiti on Feb. 29 amid a rebel advance on the capital, Port-au-Prince. He was flown aboard a US-supplied jet to the Central African Republic, where he accused the United States of forcibly removing him from office, a charge US officials deny.

He arrived in Jamaica on March 15 to reunite with his family. They were staying at a tightly secured, government-owned villa in northern Jamaica.

South Africa agreed to give Aristide temporary asylum "until his personal situation normalizes" and he can return to Haiti.

Ronnie Mamoepa, spokesman for the Department of Foreign Affairs,told Xinhua on Saturday that Aristide would stay in Gauteng province, but he did not specify whether in Pretoria or Johannesburg.

And an advisory from the South African government announced Sunday that President Thabo Mbeki "officially receives ousted Haitian president Jean-Bertrand Aristide. A few words will be said,but this is mostly a photo opportunity."

Once in South Africa, Aristide will live under tight security at the South African government's expense, a move that has angeredopposition groups in the country.

The 15-member Caribbean Community, which refuses to recognize Haiti's US-backed government, has called on the Washington-based Organization of American States to investigate the circumstances of Aristide's departure.

Source: Xinhua