Rebels threaten attack on Port au Prince

(21 Feb 2004)
1. Men driving on mopeds through streets of Gonaives
2. Militia men with rifles standing by van
3. Militia man with large rifle walking through street
4. Men watching and pan left to right to Guy Phillipe and speaker
5. Man with rifle watching speech
6. Speaker talking to crowd
7. Men listening and clapping
8. SOUNDBITE: (English) Guy Phillipe, Rebel Leader:
"It''''s okay, I think they should leave Port-Au-Prince, Cap Haitien and San Marc, where Lavalas (Aristide''''s Lavalas Family party) control, but where we control, it''''s safe. I think it is a wise decision to ask those people to leave Port-Au-Prince, to leave Cap Haitien and to leave San Marc. I think it was a good decision."
9. Armed rebels on street
10. Various of rebels walking through street
11. Various of lorries with supplies from "Medecins Sans Frontiers"
12. Medecins Sans Frontiers doctor standing outside building
13. Various of vehicles belonging to Medecins Sans Frontiers driving through street
14. Doctors talking

STORYLINE:

Rebels in Gonaives warned residents of Port-Au-Prince, Cap Haitien and San Marc on Friday to leave before rebels attack.

According to rebel leader Guy Phillipe, who entered the country from the Dominican Republic last week, it was a wise decision for foreign governments to tell their citizens to leave but he said foreigners would be safe in rebel controlled areas.

Phillipe claimed that the cut off northern city of Cap Haitien would be the first to fall, and indicated the rebels were planning an action sometime during the coming Carnival events, which began on Friday.

Rebels took control of Gonaives on Thursday, declaring it a free city, with rebel leader Buttuer Metayer declaring himself "President" of the central plateau region, which encompasses Cap Haitien.

Doctors from the French relief agency Medicines Sans Frontiers arrived in Gonaives on Friday with medical supplies and doctors.

The area around Gonaives comprises some 200 thousand people, most relying almost entirely on international aid organisations for their food and medical needs.

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