The Community's heads of government, in concluding their emergency summit yesterday in Jamaica, also decided against participating in the current multinational interim military force in Haiti that involves the USA, France and Canada, authorised by the UN Security Council - after the forced resignation of Aristide.

However, they have signalled their intention to participate in a follow-up "stabilisation" international peace-keeping force, as approved by the UN Security Council, expected to be operational in three months time.

The CARICOM leaders did not announce suspension of Haiti's membership in the Community, a possibility some of them had indicated before the emergency summit that got underway in Kingston around 15:00 hrs on Tuesday and lasted for some five hours before an adjournment to yesterday.

But in declaring that "no attempt should be taken to legitimise the rebel forces, nor should they be included in any interim government", they have implicitly acknowledged that CARICOM would also avoid giving recognition to an unconstitutional regime in Port-au-Prince.

They said the issue of "relations" with the interim administration (headed by Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, Boniface Alexandre), would be subject to "urgent review" at the forthcoming CARICOM Inter-Sessional Meeting. This is scheduled for later this month in Antigua and Barbuda.

The official statement on "the Haiti situation", released at a press conference, chaired by the Community's current chairman, Prime Minister P.J. Patterson, makes no mention of communication efforts by CARICOM with either the exiled President Aristide in the Central African Republic, or with President Thabo Mbeki of South Africa.

Mbeki is said to be maintaining a personal interest in the circumstances of Aristide's resignation as President and in his desire for political asylum in a country of his personal preference. He was the official guest of Aristide in Port-au-Prince in January for Haiti's bicentennial freedom anniversary.

Heads of government in attendance, in addition to host Jamaica, were: Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago, Guyana, The Bahamas and St.Lucia.

Absent leaders who were represented at Foreign Ministers or other levels included Antigua and Barbuda, Belize, Grenada, St.Kitts and Nevis and St.Vincent and the Grenadines.