Haitians Celebrate Elected Chief’s Inauguration

Father Jean-Bertrand Aristide, Haiti’s first democratically elected president, was sworn into office this morning, five years to the day after the fall of the Duvalier family dictatorship.

The 37-year-old leftist priest and champion of the poor pledged to uphold the 1987 constitution in a solemn ceremony that occurred without incident in the Chamber of Deputies of the Legislative Palace.

Dignitaries from 22 nations, including former President Jimmy Carter and U.S. Ambassador Alvin Adams, attended the inauguration--a historic milestone for the impoverished Caribbean nation that has been ruled by despots virtually since independence from France in 1804.

Speaking in Creole, the language of Haiti’s masses, Aristide raised his right hand and read the oath from the constitution.

Afterward, a woman in peasant garb placed the red and blue presidential sash over Aristide’s shoulder.

Moments after the ceremony installed Aristide for a five-year term, Haitians poured outdoors in celebration.

Overnight, dancing Haitians filled streets with flowers and banners in a carnival-like atmosphere.

Security, however, was increased, with police and soldiers around the capital to prevent any violence by loyalists of the Duvalier regime who have tried to kill Aristide at least three times in the last two years.