Prosper Avril

A prominent civic leader, considered the father of Haiti's constitution, was forced into exile Sunday by the military regime, a day after it imposed a state of siege and arrested dozens of critics. Louis Roy, 74, founder of the Haitian Red Cross, flew to Miami aboard a commercial flight. Roy told reporters in Miami that he was not told why he was arrested. He said he was beaten after being arrested.

Former Haitian President Prosper Avril was arrested on charges of plotting against the state, family members said. Avril, who was president from 1988 to 1990, was seized by police at a restaurant in Petion-Ville, a suburb of the capital, Port-au-Prince, as he signed copies of his new book about Haitian crime victims, "The Black Book of Insecurity," his daughter said.

A coalition of banished Haitian leaders urged the United States to join an international effort to remove Lt. Gen. Prosper Avril from power through military and economic sanctions. The group, saying it represents all Haitians silenced by Avril's "regime of terror," rejected his announcement that he is restoring civil and press liberties to the impoverished island after a weeklong crackdown against opposition activists.

Former dictator Prosper Avril sought asylum with Colombia after police searched his house for evidence in the killing of a member of the National Assembly, diplomatic officials said. Avril sought refuge at the Colombian ambassador's home. The search took place just hours after Jean-Hubert Feuille, a member of the Chamber of Deputies, was slain by gunmen outside a bank. It was unclear whether Avril, a retired army general, was considered a suspect in the slaying.

Haiti's latest government, headed by Lt. Gen. Prosper Avril, has continued the human rights abuses of its predecessors, three human rights organizations charged. "The persistence of serious human rights violations suggests an ongoing refusal by the military to relinquish power to an elected civilian government," according to the groups' report, released in New York. The 159-page report was issued by Americas Watch, the National Coalition for Haitian Refugees and Caribbean Rights.

Police closed off several blocks in the Little Haiti section of Miami on Saturday as thousands of the city's 150,000 Haitian residents danced and sang in the streets to celebrate the resignation of Lt. Gen. Prosper Avril. Police described the crowd, estimated at 4,000, as peaceful. But some 100 Haitian exiles broke into their country's consulate and occupied it for about four hours before Miami police negotiators talked them into leaving by threatening them with arrest.

The military government of Haiti lifted a state of siege, as earlier promised, and restored parts of the constitution it suspended nine days ago before launching a major crackdown on political opponents. However, a communique made no mention of plans to end censorship, which Haiti's leader, Lt. Gen. Prosper Avril, imposed last week after deporting several opposition leaders. The crackdown, which followed the killing of an army colonel Jan.

Former dictator Prosper Avril sought asylum with Colombia after police searched his house for evidence in the killing of a member of the National Assembly, diplomatic officials said. Avril sought refuge at the Colombian ambassador's home. The search took place just hours after Jean-Hubert Feuille, a member of the Chamber of Deputies, was slain by gunmen outside a bank. It was unclear whether Avril, a retired army general, was considered a suspect in the slaying.

For more than 60 years, Haiti's gleaming white concrete Presidential Palace, with its massive, bomb shelter-like central dome, has looked less like a seat of government than a huge military bunker ringed by armed soldiers and heavy weapons. Tyrants ruled and occasionally cowered there, protected by a Presidential Guard battalion that became such a rogue force that it actually lorded it over the army high command and put the country's last two military presidents in power.

Scattered acts of violence kept Haiti on edge Tuesday as an apparently chastened army high command handed over the country's presidency to a justice of the Supreme Court. Ertha Pascal Trouillot, a 42-year-old widow who has described herself as a nonpartisan democrat, was installed as provisional president of Haiti in a brief ceremony at the capital's Presidential Palace. Investing her with presidential powers that were entrusted to him when military ruler Lt. Gen.

The nation chose its first female president Monday, and the ousted military ruler she replaced was whisked into exile after a dramatic "heart-to-heart" appeal by the U.S. ambassador that he leave quickly to forestall further bloodshed. For the second time in five days, Lt. Gen. Prosper Avril succumbed to the persuasive powers of U.S. Ambassador Alvin P. Adams Jr., who convinced him in a 2:30 a.m. meeting that his staying in Haiti already had provoked bloody violence and would lead to even more.

Rudderless Haiti suffered more bloodshed Sunday as attempts to name a provisional president to replace ousted military ruler Lt. Gen. Prosper Avril bogged down. Avril's opponents vowed to stage a paralyzing general strike until he leaves the country. At least 20 people, including a police major, were killed by gunfire in the 24 hours after Avril's resignation Saturday afternoon, according to hospital reports and local radio news broadcasts.

Police closed off several blocks in the Little Haiti section of Miami on Saturday as thousands of the city's 150,000 Haitian residents danced and sang in the streets to celebrate the resignation of Lt. Gen. Prosper Avril. Police described the crowd, estimated at 4,000, as peaceful. But some 100 Haitian exiles broke into their country's consulate and occupied it for about four hours before Miami police negotiators talked them into leaving by threatening them with arrest.

The United States on Saturday expressed hope that the latest developments in Haiti would lead to genuine democracy there. "Our policy toward Haiti is and has long been aimed at helping the people of Haiti achieve democratic government and respect for fundamental human rights," State Department spokesman Adam Shub said. "We obviously hope that the latest developments in Haiti contribute to a realization of these objectives."

The military ruler of Haiti, Lt. Gen. Prosper Avril, resigned after massive public protests Saturday, and joyful Haitians celebrated by trashing the homes and offices of some of his chief supporters. Streets throughout the capital city of Port-au-Prince were blocked by bonfires lit by celebrating crowds even before the acting army chief of staff, Maj. Gen. Herard Abraham, announced Avril's resignation.

The most violent protests since the toppling of the Duvalier dynasty spread to every major city and town in Haiti on Friday as expectations mounted that the country's military leader, Lt. Gen. Prosper Avril, will bow to the escalating pressure and resign.