Haiti Put on Alert as Troops Revolt Again

The government declared a state of emergency, ordered troops on maximum alert and censored the media Wednesday after soldiers again revolted and demanded the ouster of Haiti’s leader, Lt. Gen. Prosper Avril.

It was the second apparent mutiny within the 7,000-member army since Sunday, when Avril narrowly escaped an attempt to overthrow his six-month-old government. But diplomatic sources, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Avril remained in control.

“Our impression is that it is not an attempted coup” but rather an internal army dispute, said one Western diplomat.

“It’s a standoff,” another diplomat said. “I think they’re just staring each other down,” he said, referring to the rebels and loyalist troops.

Avril’s Presidential Guard stationed two anti-aircraft guns, four armored personnel carriers and three wheeled cannons inside the compound of the National Palace.

Smoldering Barricades

Across the Champ-de-Mars Plaza, about 300 supporters gathered outside the Dessalines Barracks, where the rebellion broke out. Smoldering barricades temporarily blocked nearby streets.

Radio reports said rebels seized control of several buildings, including the telecommunications company, the state-run central bank, the Ministry of Education and the State Bureau of Statistics.

Shops in downtown Port-au-Prince closed early. Pedestrians and motorists fled, leaving the capital’s normally congested streets nearly deserted at midday.

Workers abandoned Haiti’s international airport, forcing airlines to cancel flights, which had resumed Tuesday for the first time since the abortive coup in which at least four people died.

A statement by Army General Headquarters read over state-run television Wednesday afternoon ordered all soldiers to report immediately to their command posts.

The government also issued a statement declaring a state of emergency and telling television, radio and newspapers they could only disseminate information “authorized and signed by the military government.”

Local radio stations appeared to be ignoring the order, continuing regular newscasts. The government made no effort to interfere with foreign news organizations.

The government order was issued after dissident soldiers from the feared Dessalines army unit went on the radio to demand Avril’s ouster, blaming the Haitian leader for the deaths of four rebel soldiers.

Meanwhile, three deported officers accused of leading the weekend coup arrived in Miami with their families Wednesday and applied for asylum, U.S. officials said. They were being held temporarily at immigration facilities in Miami.

Avril, 50, was brought to power last Sept. 11 by noncommissioned officers who wanted to end state-sponsored violence.