HAITI Marines help foreigners to flee chaos

One American, trapped at a roadblock, set off for the airport on foot.
PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) -- U.S. Marines escorted foreigners trying to flee Haiti's capital today as looting broke out and opposition leaders urged a "timely and orderly" departure of beleaguered President Jean-Bertrand Aristide.
Aristide loyalists built dozens of flaming barricades, blocking roads all over the city and some leading to the airport. One American abandoned his car at a roadblock and set off on foot for the airport, carrying his suitcase. Thugs were robbing people at the barricades.
Marine escort
U.S. Marines escorted a convoy of U.N. personnel, after the United Nations today ordered all nonessential staff and family to leave.
Canada confirmed that a team of soldiers flew into Port-au-Prince on Tuesday to aid a possible evacuation of some 1,000 citizens, Foreign Affairs spokesman Reynald Doiron said in Ottawa.
Britain and Australia urged their citizens Tuesday to get out of Haiti, after similar warnings from the United States, France and Mexico. There are about 30,000 foreigners in Haiti, 20,000 of them Americans.
Haiti's opposition coalition confirmed its refusal to agree to an international peace plan that would have Aristide remain as president but share power with his political rivals.
"It is absolutely necessary for the international community to accompany the country in its quest for a mechanism that will allow for a timely and orderly departure of Jean-Bertrand Aristide," the Democratic Platform coalition said in a prepared statement.
The first step in the resolution to the crisis is Aristide's departure," opposition leader Evans Paul said at a news conference.
French U.N. Ambassador Jean-Marc de La Sabliere said Tuesday that diplomats were considering proposing "a police force, or a civilian force" for approval by the U.N. Security Council.
Rebel leader's whereabouts
Rebel leader Guy Philippe remained in Cap-Haitien, Haiti's second-largest city in the north that militants seized Sunday and are making their base.
Last-ditch diplomatic efforts by Secretary of State Colin Powell did not save the peace plan because the Democratic Platform coalition insisted upon the resignation of Aristide, who has lost much popular support amid accusations he condoned corruption, failed to help the poor and brutally suppressed the opposition.
The plan would have kept Aristide as president, but with diminished powers and compelled to share government with his rivals.
"There will be no more delays. Our answer remains the same. Aristide must resign," said Maurice Lafortune, president of the Haitian Chamber of Commerce that is part of the Democratic Platform.
French Foreign Minister Dominique de Villepin was to meet this week in Paris with representatives of the Haitian government and the opposition to try to resolve the escalating crisis in the former French colony.
Border patrols
The Dominican Republic sent 1,500 troops to double the number patrolling its 225-mile border with Haiti, said Gen. Jose Miguel Soto Jimenez, the country's top military official.
Dominican officials fear a surge of Haitian refugees, as does the United States.
White House spokesman Scott McClellan said U.S. planes were patrolling Haitian shores to guard against boat people. "We've not seen any indication to indicate a surge in migration at this point," he said, making clear any migrants caught would be returned home.
In a letter to Powell, Rep. Barbara Lee, D-Calif., accused the Bush administration of standing by while an elected government faces violent overthrow.
"People are dying, and our own commitment to democracy is under siege. ... Our failure to support the democratic process and help restore order looks like a covert effort to overthrow a government," wrote Lee.
Human Rights Watch said the international community should consider sending soldiers and police to Haiti, citing the "horrendous human rights records" of some rebel leaders.