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02/05/2006:

"Aristide supporters rally before Haiti vote"

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (Reuters) - Hundreds of poor Haitians danced in the streets on Saturday and demanded the return of exiled leader Jean-Bertrand Aristide three days before a presidential vote that some fear will lead to chaos.

Loudspeakers mounted on trucks blared music as Aristide supporters waved banners, sang and danced in a campaign rally that wound from the streets of downtown Port-au-Prince into the sprawling Bel-Air slum.

They were marching in support of front-runner Rene Preval, an ex-president seen as an Aristide ally even though he has tried to distance himself from the firebrand former priest who was ousted in a rebellion two years ago.

"Preval, we can't wait any longer, bring back Aristide," the crowd chanted. One man lay in the street, a poster of Preval on one side and a poster of Aristide on the other.

"Preval and Aristide are twins!" others shouted.
washingtonpost.com