Aristide announces framework for Haiti talks
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Haitian President Jean-Bertrand Aristide speaks to journalists Saturday at a news conference in Kingston, Jamaica.
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PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (CNN) -- Haitian President Jean-Bertrand Aristide returned to Port-au-Prince Saturday night after a daylong meeting with international leaders in an effort to resolve Haiti's latest political crisis.
Aristide said at a news conference Saturday night that the group established a framework for continued negotiations with a March deadline for concrete actions.
Such actions would include a temporary electoral council that would allow for new parliamentary elections by midsummer, Aristide said.
Aristide met in Kingston, Jamaica, with the leaders of several Caribbean nations and representatives from the Organization of American States, the European Union, Canada and the United States.
Aristide described Saturday's meetings as fruitful and positive, and called on his political opponents to work with him in finding solutions to the country's problems.
The situation in Haiti began deteriorating in early January when celebrations marking the 200th anniversary of the country's independence from France were marred by violent protests.
The U.S. State Department said that while some Haitian police tried to protect demonstrators, others collaborated with armed gangs to attack protesters, steal cars, attack radio stations, vandalize businesses and harass people.
The Bush administration has urged the government to end suppression, punish those responsible for violence and undertake political reforms called for by the OAS to restore the rule of law.
Aristide announced in early January his intention to organize legislative elections sometime over the next six months.
The Haitian leader also said an advisory council would be appointed to help him set government decrees until a new parliament is elected.
Referring to Haiti's increasingly vocal opposition, Aristide said that while the opposition has the democratic right to demonstrate on the streets, it must respect the law and do so without violence.
He said the opposition must consult with police when planning its street protests to avoid violence.
Opposition leader Andy Apaid told CNN his group, Societe Civile, one of two main opposition organizations, was not invited to attend Saturday's meeting but that he would not have attended the meeting anyway.
Apaid said he did not want to use the same forum as Aristide to voice his positions.
Apaid said he has been working to oust Aristide for the past three years and accused Aristide of using an "occult criminal machine to violate the human rights of the Haitian people."
Apaid said the opposition needs to express itself freely and without intimidation, but that the police were resorting to tactics that undermined demonstrations by creating a climate of fear.
He said that climate of fear was causing otherwise willing opposition demonstrators to stay home.
Aristide insisted that as the democratically elected president of Haiti he is committed to working with the opposition to resolve the political impasse.
As a result of violence, the U.S. Embassy has closed several times and restricted the movement of its personnel. International organizations have reduced their staffs in the country.
The U.S. State Department has urged Americans citizens to delay travel to Haiti.
CNN's Ingrid Arnesen and Harris Whitbeck contributed to this story.
