Large protest in Haiti focuses on role of U.S.

By Knight Ridder Newspapers and The Associated Press

	WALTER ASTRADA / AP Supporters of former President Jean-Bertrand Aristide protest yesterday in front of the presidential palace in Port-au-Prince, Haiti.
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At the palace, a crowd that at one point grew to an estimated 5,000 paraded past Marine guards. Many carried photographs of Aristide and chanted "Long live Aristide!" and "Down with George Bush!"

"I want to tell George Bush he has failed," said Daniel Delva, 35. "We don't have a problem with the U.S. military. We don't have a problem with the American people. The problem we have is with the Republicans, because they want war all over the world and don't respect democracy."

A cluster of people remained at the gates of the palace, waiting to see what the Marines might do. Some of the Marines took up firing positions inside the palace grounds.

"I don't want them to stay in there, I want them to patrol," said Jean Bernarto, 29. "We want the country to be revived. They are here to do that, but up until now, they haven't done anything."

Other protesters, a few with pistols tucked into their belts, charged past the U.S. and French embassies. Outside the U.S. Embassy, one young man screamed epithets and then mooned the Marines.

U.S. Ambassador James Foley rejected complaints that the U.S.-led international military force was not doing enough to return security to Haiti. The nation is mired in shambles by a four-week revolt that left more than 130 dead and helped push Aristide to leave the country for exile Sunday.

Special teams from the U.S. Southern Command in Florida arrived yesterday at rebel bases of Cap-Haitien, on Haiti's north coast; the western city of Gonaives; and possibly other locations across the country, said Army Maj. Richard Crusan, spokesman for the interim international force. Those troops were in addition to the 1,100 Marines already in Port-au-Prince.

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