Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, March 11, 1990 TAG: 9003112715
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: A1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: The Washington Post
DATELINE: PORT-AU-PRINCE, HAITI LENGTH: Medium
Avril, 52, was expected to leave the country in days or hours, diplomats said, but there were no details on where he would go.
At about 2:40 p.m. Saturday, Avril was driven in a heavily armed motorcade Avril from the imposing National Palace to his spectacular mansion above the city.
About a half-hour later, in a one-minute televised statement, Abraham said:
"The mission is clear and the objective precise: to re-establish peace and order in a 72-hour period in order to hand over power to a provisional government, in accordance with the constitution, that will have the task of organizing elections."
Although popular demonstrations last week were reminiscent of the protests that preceded then-President Jean-Claude Duvalier's flight to France in February 1986, Avril's departure was not greeted by any public display of joy or even relief.
"We'll celebrate when this new general is also out of power," said a man standing a block from the National Palace. "We'll celebrate when there is a civilian government in Haiti - an elected government!"
Streets were generally quiet Saturday, although there was scattered violence.
In a southern suburb, three young men and a young woman were killed when they attacked an Avril supporter, who shot them and escaped accompanied by soldiers, according to local residents.
Conservative leader Hubert de Ronceray, one of seven politicians exiled by a government clampdown in January, said in Miami that Avril's resignation was "an encouraging first step. But Prosper Avril is still a public danger if he stays in Haiti."
In Washington, State Department spokesman Adam Shub said:
"We welcome the statement by Gen. Abraham. We are encouraged by the spirit of cooperation shown by Haitian political, labor, business and civic leaders to build a consensus for a democratic transition in Haiti. We call on all Haitians to ensure that there will be no further bloodshed and call on the armed forces to defend the constitution and the democratic process."
by CNB