- MIAMI (AP) - Exiled Haitian
dictator Jean-Claude "Baby Doc" Duvalier told a television reporter
he wants to return to his homeland now that President Jean-Bertrand Aristide
has fled.
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- "This is my country," Duvalier told WFOR-CBS4
on Monday in an interview in Paris. "I'm ready to put myself at the
disposal of the Haitian people."
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- But Duvalier said he doesn't plan to run for president.
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- "That is not on my agenda," Duvalier said through
a translator.
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- The deposed dictator said he requested a diplomatic passport
several weeks ago and is in constant contact with people in Haiti. Accused
of human rights violations, mass killings and stealing at least $120 million
from the national treasury, Duvalier fled to France in 1986, 15 years after
succeeding his father, the late Francois "Papa Doc" Duvalier.
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- "I think I'm getting close and that I will soon
have the opportunity to go back to my country," he said.
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- Duvalier also said he was not involved with the rebels
who helped force Aristide out of office Sunday.
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- He applauded the "prompt action of the international
community," welcomed the presence of U.S. Marines and said the country
should stabilize quickly.
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- But Reed Brody, special counsel for the group Human Rights
Watch, said: "Duvalier's return to Haiti would be a disaster, unless
it is to face justice."
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- "His dictatorial regime was responsible for thousands
of political killings and arbitrary detentions," Brody said. "It
would be such a step back for Haiti to have Duvalier play a role in Haitian
politics."
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- Duvalier had been named president for life at age 18
following the 1971 death of his father. Tens of thousands were killed during
the 29-year Duvalier dynasty and hundreds of millions of dollars stolen.
Brody said the exact number of killed is unknown.
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- Guardian Unlimited © Guardian Newspapers Limited
2004
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- http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,1280,-3812538,00.html
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