Haitian president appeals for aid

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti -- Haiti's president urgently appealed for the world's help Tuesday to avert a bloodbath and a new exodus of boat people as rebels threatened the capital. Despite last-ditch diplomacy, an opposition coalition rejected a U.S.-backed peace plan.

Supporters of President Jean-Bertrand Aristide, armed with old rifles and pistols, built junkpile barricades blocking the road into Port-au-Prince, setting some of the barriers ablaze.

The opposition rejected a peace plan that would have kept Aristide as president, but with diminished powers and compelled to share government with his rivals.

"We sent our position and a signed letter saying no to the proposal," opposition leader Paul Denis told The Associated Press. He said the letters from the Democratic Platform were delivered to David Lee of Canada, the Organization of American States representative in Haiti.

"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 a member of the Democratic Platform.

Secretary of State Colin Powell on Monday had asked the opposition leaders to delay their formal response for 24 hours -- until 5 p.m. Tuesday -- and opposition leaders said he had sought to assure them that the international community would call for Aristide to step down if he did not honor any agreement.

At a news conference, Aristide warned that if rebels try to take the capital, the death toll would be high. So far, at least 70 people have been killed in the three-week uprising.

Aristide's followers have armed themselves since Haiti's small and demoralized police force fled the rebel advance. The insurgents have torched more than 20 police stations across northern Haiti since the uprising erupted Feb. 5.

Aristide said he was not calling for a military intervention, but for more help in training and equipping Haiti's police under an existing OAS agreement. Previous requests have been ignored as countries, including the United States, accuse Aristide of politicizing the police force, ignoring corruption and using the police to crush dissent. Aristide denied those charges.