Haitian church leaders call on Aristide to step down as president

Published: 2003-12-22

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (CNS) -- Haitian church leaders are calling on President Jean-Bertrand Aristide to step down, echoing calls made by civic organizations. "The best thing for Aristide to do now is leave," Bishop Guire Poulard of Jacmel told local radio stations in mid-December. The bishops had offered to assist the government begin reforms once the current Parliament expires Jan. 12. After initially rejecting the bishops' proposal, Aristide said Dec. 18 that he would work with the church to end the political deadlock. Aristide's administration has been locked in a stalemate with the opposition since flawed 2000 legislative elections that the opposition charged were rigged. Since mid-September, clashes during anti-government protests across the nation have killed at least 16 people and wounded scores more. The opposition refuses to participate in new elections unless Aristide steps down. The embattled leader, however, says he will serve out his term, which ends in 2006.

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