Hti: Powell to Caricom - get a life!

Secretary of State Colin Powell gave Washington's strong backing Monday to Haiti's interim leaders, offering rhetorical support and new aid to smooth the country's return to constitutional rule.

He rejected a call by Haiti's Caribbean neighbors for a United Nations investigation into the circumstances surrounding the Feb. 29 departure from power of President Jean-Bertrand Aristide. Aristide, who left Haiti aboard a U.S. plane after a three-week revolt fueled by discontent over corruption, has charged that he was forced from office in an American-engineered coup d'etat.

"I don't think any purpose would be served by such an inquiry," Powell said of the request by the Caribbean Community, whose members have declined to recognize the new government. "The facts are very well known."

Powell added, "It was only six weeks ago that Haiti was on the verge of total security collapse. We prevented a bloodbath and a coup from taking place."