Haitian police take ex-dictator to court

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) — Haitian police led ex-dictator Jean-Claude Duvalier out of his hotel and took him to court today without saying whether he was being charged with crimes committed under his brutal regime. His longtime companion denied that he had been arrested.

A contingent of police led the former dictator known as "Baby Doc" through the hotel and to a waiting SUV. He was not wearing handcuffs.

Duvalier, 59, was calm and did not say anything, ignoring questions from journalists, as he was led away to cheers from some and jeers from others.

The SUV drove in a convoy of police vehicles to a courthouse, even as dozens of Duvalier supporters blocked streets with overturned trash bins and rocks to try to prevent the former dictator from going to prison.

The courthouse was thronged with spectators and journalists, who were not permitted to enter to view the proceedings.