Haiti suspends diplomatic relations with Jamaica

The former president was expected to arrive in Jamaica this afternoon for what officials there said would be a visit to reunite with his two daughters while he seeks permanent asylum in a third country.

The girls reportedly were sent to be with relatives in the United States during the uprising that led to Aristide's departure.

But the Haitian leader, speaking cryptically as he often does, indicated he has not abandoned his desire to return to govern Haiti.

"For the time being, I'm listening to my people," Aristide said before boarding a plane in the Central African Republic, where he was flown to exile in a U.S.-supplied plane two weeks ago.

"The more we listen to them, the more we serve them, the more we will know what to do at the right time. We all have to do what we can to promote peace," he said.

After reaching the Central African Republic, Aristide claimed U.S. forces made him leave the country against his will. U.S. officials deny that.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,1280,-3863620,00.html

Diplomatic chill falls over the Caribbean

Port-au-Prince - Haiti froze its diplomatic relations with Jamaica on Monday and recalled their ambassador from Kingston just before the arrival there of ousted president Jean Bertrand Aristide, Prime Minister Gerard Latortue said.

Haitian government took the action after Aristide left his temporary exile in the Central African Republic for Jamaica during the night - much to the chagrin of American and Haitian officials who fear his return to the Caribbean region could result new incidents of unrest in his terror-ravaged homeland.

The former president will be only 200km away from Haiti, a fact that could stir up emotions among Aristide's hardcore supporters, who have been blamed for much of the violence that followed his February 29 resignation and departure from the impoverished republic.

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