President Barack Obama told South African President Jacob Zuma in a telephone call he had “deep concerns” about exiled former president Jean-Bertrand Aristide's planned return to Haiti, an official said on Thursday.
Obama made the call on Tuesday, as part of US pressure on Aristide not to end his seven-year exile in South Africa before Sunday's run-off presidential vote.
“The United States, along with others in the international community, has deep concerns that President Aristide’s return to Haiti in the closing days of the election could be destabilizing,” said National Security Council spokesperson Tommy Vietor.
“President Obama reiterated that view in a call with President Zuma the other day that addressed a range of global challenges, along with his belief that the Haitian people deserve the chance to choose their government through peaceful, free, and fair elections March 20.” -
Sapa-AFP