HAITI Rebels take over another town and close in on the capital

Washington is questioning whether Aristide can continue to govern.
PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) -- Rebels who have launched a bloody uprising took control of another town today, closing in on the capital as President Jean-Bertrand Aristide appealed for foreign peacekeepers and the country lurched toward chaos.
As Aristide's government appeared to be losing the confidence of the United States as well as France, the rebels drove police out and freed about 67 prisoners in Mireblais, about 25 miles southeast of Port-au-Prince, witnesses said. It was unclear whether the rebels were still in the town or were pushing toward the capital.
Haiti's third-largest city, Les Cayes, fell Thursday and is now in the control of the Base Resistance, an anti-government group allied with Haiti's opposition Democratic Platform but not tied to the rebels.
Talks in France
French Foreign Minister Dominique de Villepin was holding talks today in Paris with leaders of Haiti's government on how to end the crisis.
De Villepin, who has called for Aristide's resignation and an international civilian force to back up an interim government, was meeting at the French Foreign Ministry with a delegation led by Haitian Foreign Minister Joseph Antonio.
Aristide supporters, meanwhile, gathered outside the National Palace this morning to protect Haiti's embattled leader. Teenagers used bulldozers and forklifts to build barricades of wrecked cars, telephone poles, chairs, garbage and burning tires.
In Washington, Secretary of State Colin Powell questioned whether Aristide could continue to rule and came close to telling Aristide he should bow out before his term expires in February 2006.
"Whether or not he is able to effectively continue as president is something he will have to examine carefully in the interests of the Haitian people," Powell said Thursday.
Haiti's rebellion erupted Feb. 5 in western Gonaives, the fourth-largest city, and on Sunday the second largest, the northern port of Cap-Haitien, fell with little resistance.
Rebel leader Guy Philippe, speaking to an Associated Press reporter in Cap-Haitien on Thursday, said his forces were already converging on Port-au-Prince and would attack if Aristide did not resign.
'Awaiting order'
"We're just going to take our positions and wait for the right time (to attack)," said Philippe, a former officer in the disbanded army who was Aristide's assistant police chief for northern Haiti. "They're awaiting the order."
About 80 people, half of them police officers, have been killed in the rebellion, which was launched by a street gang in Gonaives that says it was armed by Aristide to terrorize opponents.
Aristide told CNN he wouldn't resign. He also said it wouldn't take much international aid to crush the insurgency, one of whose commanders is former death squad leader Louis-Jodel Chamblain.
"From my point of view, if we have a couple of dozen of international soldiers, police, together right now, it could be enough to send a positive signal to those terrorists," Aristide said. "Once they realize the international community refuses (to allow) the terrorists to keep killing people, we can prevent them to kill more people."
Jamaica's Foreign Minister K.D. Knight, speaking for the 15-nation Caribbean Community that includes Haiti, appealed Thursday to the U.N. Security Council for immediate assistance.
But Powell and his counterparts from France and Canada said Haiti's government and opposition politicians must reach a political agreement before any peacekeepers go.
Haiti's crisis has brewed since Aristide's party swept flawed legislative elections in 2000 and international donors froze millions of dollars in aid.
Aristide has agreed to a U.S.-backed plan that requires him to share power with his opponents. But the opposition rejected the proposal and insists that the president resign.
The Rev. Jesse Jackson, visiting Libya, urged the United States to protect Aristide.
'Could be killed'
"Unless something happens immediately, the president could be killed," Jackson said. "We must not allow that to happen to that democracy. We must give the best troops to Haiti to protect the president's compound."
Many foreigners and Haitians have fled the country.
Americans with M-16s guarded a convoy of U.N. workers and their families on the way to Port-au-Prince's airport Thursday, passing barricades of wrecked cars, rocks and tires built by Aristide supporters.
Military helicopters of the Dominican Republic, which shares the island of Hispaniola with Haiti, ferried people from the Dominican Embassy to the airport, which was packed, mostly with Haitian-Americans trying to return to the United States.
Brazil dispatched Marines to evacuate South American citizens and protect its embassy. The United States and Canada have also sent troops to evacuate citizens and guard embassy property.
"Anyone is going to want to save his own skin. It's a state of fear," said a 34-year-old Haitian who lives in New York and didn't want to give his name.
Canceled flights, closed businesses
American Airlines also canceled flights between Haiti and the United States until March 3.
Businesses were shuttered, long lines formed at the few open banks and gas stations, and streets were mostly devoid of people.
Aristide, a former priest of Haiti's slums who in 1990 became Haiti's first freely elected leader, has lost popularity amid accusations he condoned corruption, failed to help the poor and had thugs attack political opponents.