Haiti warned invasion is near
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.KINGSTON (Reuter) - The United States and Caribbean nations said yesterday that they were 'moving briskly' in the direction of a military invasion of Haiti and a US-led force would begin training in Puerto Rico.
'Our governments are equally united in their determination to take all necessary means to carry out the (UN) Security Council mandate to restore the democratic process in Haiti,' said a statement issued by senior US and Caribbean officials after a meeting in Jamaica on the Haiti crisis.
'Training is planned to begin immediately for the multi-national force,' Deputy US Defence Secretary John Deutch said. He said it was expected to take place at the US military base at Roosevelt Roads, Puerto Rico.
Deputy US Secretary of State Strobe Talbott and officials of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) hoped that Haiti's military rulers would step aside soon and allow elected President Jean-Bertrand Aristide to return to power. If they did not, a multi-national force would remove them. Senior US officials told reporters privately that the US-led force was expected to total about 10,000 troops, most of them Americans. Mr Aristide was deposed in a bloody coup nearly three years ago and now lives in exile in the US.
In New York, UN Secretary-General Boutros Boutros Ghali said the world body has failed to arrange a last-ditch bid to persuade Haiti's military rulers to step down peacefully. He declined to say whether the next step was likely to be a US-led invasion of Haiti, as authorised by a 31 July Security Council resolution demanding the restoration of Mr Aristide.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments