Hti: WANTED - Aristide

Haiti's U.S.-backed interim government plans to ask for the extradition of ousted Jean-Bertrand Aristide on charges of corruption and rights abuses that are under investigation, the new justice minister told The Associated Press.

The plan could further complicate Aristide's efforts to find a permanent home in exile.

In coming weeks, Haitian authorities will appoint an independent body to investigate allegations of embezzlement and assassinations under Aristide, Justice Minister Bernard Gousse said in an interview Thursday.

"We are setting up a team to assemble all the violations ... for which he is responsible, and then we'll formally ask for his extradition," he said, refusing to give a time frame.

"The most urgent thing that the population is awaiting is the fight against impunity because there have been too many abuses," he said.

Gousse was more cautious about ensuring justice for two convicted assassins among rebel leaders whose uprising led to Aristide's flight. Interim Prime Minister Gerard Latortue has been criticized for praising them as "freedom fighters."

If any action is taken, he said, "We must do it in a way that will not promote disorder."

He said Louis-Jodel Chamblain, the co-leader of an army death squad convicted in his absence and sentenced to two life terms in jail for the assassinations of Aristide's justice minister and his chief financier, would have to be retried in person to comply with Haitian law.

And he said the government could pardon Jean Tatoune, another rebel leader who was sentenced to life imprisonment for his role in a massacre of Aristide supporters. Tatoune was broken out of jail last year by a street gang that began the rebellion.

Bad boy, bad boy, whatcha gonna do? Whatcha gonna do when they come for you?