Lucia Newman: 'A lot of nervousness' in Haiti
 |
CNN's Lucia Newman via videophone
Story Tools
VIDEO
|
Security and terrorism expert Kelly McCann analyzes the situation in Haiti and the challenges that U.S. Marines face there.
|
YOUR E-MAIL ALERTS
|
Follow the news that matters to you. Create your own alert to be notified on topics you're interested in.
Or, visit Popular Alerts for suggestions.
|
|
SAINT-MARC, Haiti (CNN) -- The political situation in Haiti remained volatile Wednesday as rebels closed in on the capital Port-au-Prince, increasing fears of a full-blown civil war.
CNN correspondent Lucia Newman reported from Haiti on the ongoing conflict between President Jean-Bertrand Aristide and rebel forces.
NEWMAN: I'm speaking to you from the city of Saint-Marc, about 2 1/2 hours from Port-au-Prince. The rebels who control the north will have to pass right through here to try to make it to the capital.
At the end of the road, the locals have barricaded the entrance into the city with a huge containers, and only just opened it up a few minutes ago to let a few cars pass by.
The idea is to set up a dam to prevent the rebels from flooding in. There is obviously a lot of nervousness here at this moment.
At the same time, we have learned that the opposition, which had to decide whether or not to accept a diplomatic peace proposal for a negotiated settlement out of this crisis, has virtually said no.
This, as President Jean-Bertrand Aristide makes an appeal to the international community, asking for help to prop up his debilitated police force, to avoid what he is calling a bloodbath.
