Ja: Oops! Here it is!

CAPE TOWN, South Africa (AP) - Ousted Haitian President Jean-Bertrand Aristide has officially asked South Africa for asylum until his personal situation "normalises," the Foreign Affairs Ministry said yesterday.

The request from Aristide, who is in Jamaica, was made through the Caribbean Community (Caricom) and Mozambique President Joaquin Chissano, chairman of the African Union, a ministry statement said.

Foreign Affairs Minister Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma said she will take the request to the newly- appointed Cabinet, which will conduct its first meeting later this week.

The South African government has always maintained that its approach to the Haitian question will be guided by the views and attitude of Caricom and the African Union, she said in a statement.

The request is the first official indication that Aristide intends to come to South Africa and follows months of speculation as to where he will seek refuge.

Aristide's spokesman in Jamaica, Huntley Medley, declined comment.

I still have yet to find a report that originates in Jamaica. Notice how it's not a done deal in South Africa. So, it looks as though Aristide has finally responded to Jamaican prodding.