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Rebels in Haiti Rush to Capital

Insisting that President Jean-Bertrand Aristide give up his power, opponents marched toward his National Palace in Port-au-Prince, Haiti's capital, late last week. Aristide's supporters, meanwhile, called for international support for their struggling leader.

Some Aristide supporters gathered weapons in case of a battle in the capital. They used bulldozers to build temporary walls around the presidential residence to block Aristide's opponents from attacking.

But the rebels, who say the president has been dishonest and hasn't done enough to help the country's poor, said they would soon arrest him. They refused to discuss sharing power with Aristide, because they said they didn't trust him.

"Aristide's departure is imminent," said opposition politician Claire Lydie Parent. As of last Friday, the rebels had taken control of four of Haiti's 10 provinces.

"It's a state of fear," said one 34-year-old Haitian, who feared more violence. People rushed to the airport to try to leave. Hundreds fleeing Haiti by boat were blocked from entering the U.S.

President George W. Bush said he hoped Haitians could reach a peaceful solution on their own. U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell hinted that Aristide should consider resigning.

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