Panama to grant temporary asylum to exiled Haitian president

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Monday, March 01, 2004

Panama to grant temporary asylum to exiled Haitian president

Panama would offer temporary asylum to exiled Haitian President Jean-Bertrand Aristide, Panamanian Foreign Minister Harmodio Arias told the local TV station.

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Panama would offer temporary asylum to exiled Haitian President Jean-Bertrand Aristide, Panamanian Foreign Minister Harmodio Arias told the local TV station.

Arias said he had informed US Secretary of State Colin Powell of the Panamanian government's decision. Earlier, Powell notified Arias by phone of Aristide's exile and his wish to find political asylum in an African country.

Arias said Panama is ready to give Aristide a two-week interim refuge. If a third country offers him political asylum, Panama would treat him as an "interim guest" for two weeks, Arias said.

Earlier, Panamanian President Mireya Moscoso indicated that hercountry would be willing to consider granting asylum to Aristide.

Speaking on the Panamanian radio, the president said Panama hasto "view with compassion this country battered by misery and malnutrition" and would "help everything get back to normal."

Panama was the first country to say publicly that it would consider sheltering Aristide.

Aristide, Haiti's first democratically elected president in 200years of independence, fled the island Sunday as rebels came within 40 km of the capital and threatened to attack unless he resigned.

In 1994, the Panamanian government agreed to harbor Gen. Raoul Cedras at the request of the Organization of American States, to permit Aristide's return to power and allow the lifting of UN sanctions against Haiti. Cedras helped drive a military coup that pushed Aristide out of power in 1991. Cedras' ex-police chief Philiphe Biamby also was granted asylum. In 1998, Panama rejected Haiti's request to extradite Cedras.

For years, Panama has served as a refuge for ousted former leaders, many of whom left office in disgrace. Others who receivedasylum here include ex-presidents Jorge Serrano Elias of Guatemalaand Abdala Bucaram of Ecuador.

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