The call was contained in a statement that was issued following a two-day emergency summit in Kingston, Jamaica.

A Reuters report yesterday said that Caricom Heads of Government also said they would meet again to discuss Haiti's continued membership while sending a message "that no action should be taken to legitimise the rebel forces nor should they be included in any interim government."

They said the events that led to the flight of Aristide promote the unconstitutional removal of duly elected persons from office. They also said it sets a dangerous precedent for democratically elected governments everywhere. They called for the immediate return to democratic rule, while saying that they would not be part of the United Nations multinational peacekeeping force.

Aristide, at odds with political rivals in Haiti, fled on Sunday to the Central African Republic after an armed revolt that lasted for 24 days. He was escorted to the Port-au-Prince airport at daybreak by US guards. He has said that he did not leave his country voluntarily.
P.J. Patterson

Caricom leaders expressed concern at contradictory reports. "Despite what we have heard in public and despite what we have learned in private, we simply say that the situation calls for an investigation of what transpired," Jamaican Prime Minister and Caricom Chairman P.J. Patterson is quoted as saying in a Reuters report.

Caricom tried to broker a power-sharing deal that would allow Aristide to remain in power but the political opposition in Port-au-Prince refused, insisting that he step down as the armed revolt progressed. Aristide had asked the UN for help as the insurgency grew but no immediate action was taken by the UN Security Council, which has now deployed a multinational interim force to restore order.

In the statement issued after the Conference, the Caricom Heads of Government said they were disappointed by the reluctance of the UN Security Council. They also said the deployment of the UN force now is in circumstances that are quite different to those which were conceived in Caricom's proposal, since it followed immediately on Aristide's departure.

"In the prevailing circumstances, Heads of Government do not envisage their participation in the Multinational Interim Force authorised by the UN Security Council," the statement said.

But the Heads of Government, reiterating their commitment to continued political, economic, and social development of Haiti, have also directed the Caricom Secretary General to set up a Task Force to co-ordinate the community's assistance in those areas where they can help.

"Despite whatever might have happened, we are reiterating our commitment to the people of Haiti," Reuters quotes Patterson as saying.

Patterson said an international peacekeeping force was "necessary and vital" but the Caricom nations would concentrate instead on providing other kinds of aid to the United Nations stabilisation force that is to replace the troops.

"In this way we can provide humanitarian assistance to rebuild the economy and civil society, to the reconstitution of the democratic structures."

In their statement the Heads of Government said they wished to see the restoration of peace and stability in Haiti and the earliest return to constitutional democracy.

The leaders said they are still concerned about the security situation and affirmed that the disarming of illegally armed groups must be an urgent priority, given the loss of life, destruction of private property and politically motivated attacks that include threats against members of government. They also said the present turmoil in Haiti is placing strains on the resources of neighbouring states.

According to the Reuters report, Patterson said Caricom leaders would meet again on March 25 and 26 in St. Kitts to review Haiti's situation, and discuss whether Haiti should be suspended from the regional group because of the changes in its government.

"We are not prepared to deliberate in any of our meetings with thugs, anarchists and persons who have a reputation which is contrary to the tenets of civil society to which we subscribe," he said.

Guyana's President Bharrat Jagdeo was among the leaders present at the Jamaica meeting.