[Previous entry: "Peru president gives poll warning"] [Next entry: "Pinochet-Era Police Center to Become Allende Museum"]

03/12/2006:

"Haiti's Preval Calls on Brazil-Led Forces to Stay"

March 10 (Bloomberg) -- Haitian President-elect Rene Preval called on Brazil-led peacekeeping forces to remain in the country to help provide security as it restores democracy and order.

Preval, speaking at a news conference in Brasilia, said Brazilian troops have also helped provide education and health to Haiti's poor population. He said the Caribbean country will need time to reinforce its own police and justice system.

``Our justice system and police are extremely frail,'' Preval, a former ally of ousted leader Jean-Bertrand Aristide, said. ``The presence of the forces should continue and be renewed.''

Haiti, the Western Hemisphere's poorest county, is trying to reorganize a government two years after a rebellion drove Aristide from power and the country into chaos, calling for the United Nations to send forces to help restore security.

Brazilian Foreign Minister Celso Amorim on Feb. 16 said Brazil will maintain support for Haiti, though he declined to say how long Brazil plans to keep its 1,222 soldiers there, where the UN has about 9,000 troops.

Haiti's daily average income is about $1.
bloomberg.com