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Aristide gets asylum in South Africa

The South African government said Thursday that it would grant asylum to Jean-Bertrand Aristide, Haiti's deposed president, until he can return to Haiti.

After Aristide was ousted on Feb. 29 after a three-week armed revolt, he stayed briefly in the Central African Republic, then left for Jamaica, which granted him a 10-week stay. A spokesman for Aristide has said he could arrive in South Africa as early as next week.

The decision to offer Aristide asylum came one month after South African elections that re-elected President Thabo Mbeki and strengthened his African National Congress' hold on power. US officials had asked Mbeki to take in Aristide before the elections, but Mbeki balked. Analysts said Mbeki had wanted to avoid controversy before the voting.

On Thursday, South African officials underlined their sympathy with Aristide's assertion that he was illegally forced out of office and repeated calls for a UN investigation into his removal.

"We oppose the concept of regime change and no country, however powerful, has the right to remove a democratically elected leader," government spokesman Joel Netshitenzhe said.

Aristide has accused the US and France of conspiring to spirit him out of Haiti against his will. Bush administration officials have said they acted to protect Aristide.

Netshitenzhe characterized Aristide's stay in South Africa as temporary, until "the Haitian situation stabilizes and he and his family can return."

Privately, South African officials said how long Aristide remains could depend on how his political party fares when Haiti holds elections next year.

Haiti is now in the hands of a US-backed interim government, which is planning to investigate accusations of embezzlement and human-rights abuses involving Aristide.

Leaders of South Africa's leading opposition party, the Democratic Alliance, have said it would be morally reprehensible to welcome Aristide to South Africa.

"He is personally responsible for a great deal of human suffering and his record is an affront to the principles of good governance," party spokesman Douglas Gibson said earlier this week.
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