France ponders Haiti peace force

[NewJerseyDem]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/3496365.stm

France says it is ready to consider sending a peacekeeping force to its former colony Haiti, where more than 50 people have died in civil unrest.

It has set up a unit to monitor the crisis, as a revolt by opponents of President Jean-Bertrand Aristide spreads from the north.

Another town - Hinche - came under rebel attack on Monday and President Aristide appealed for foreign help.

But the US said it had "no enthusiasm" for using forces to quell the unrest.

[undergroundrailroad]

1. Where is the "war" pResident now ?

U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan said Tuesday the world body plans to "become much more actively engaged" in Haiti's crisis. Officials from several U.N. agencies went to the country Feb. 8 to assess the humanitarian situation and are expected to return to report at the end of the week.

Meanwhile, Canada offered nearly $1 million in medical and food aid, and the United States said it was ready to give $500,000 in humanitarian assistance through the United Nations.

"We are calling for a truce," U.S. Ambassador James Foley said Tuesday. "It doesn't mean that we want to maintain the status quo. ... Haiti cannot continue living without a state of law, with politicized and demoralized police, armed gangs."

[RC]

2. what does this do the the repug idea that the French

won't/can't fight?