As thousands of looters rampaged through Cap-Haitien, rebel leader Guy Philippe predicted a quick victory over Aristide's partisans, who sought to block any advance by erecting flaming barricades on the highway into the capital, Port-au-Prince, from the north.

"I think that in less than 15 days we will control all of Haiti," Philippe said in Cap-Haitien.

Sources close to the government said several Cabinet ministers in Port-au-Prince are asking friends for places to hide in case the capital is attacked.

The takeover of Cap-Haitien, a city of some 500,000 on Haiti's north coast, by some 200 fighters is the most significant by Aristide opponents since the uprising began Feb 5. At least 15 people died in fighting for the city.

As dozens of U.S. Marines arrived in Port-au-Prince to secure the U.S. Embassy, Secretary of State Colin Powell sought to head off a bloody clash for control of the capital, urging opposition politicians to accept a power-sharing deal with Aristide.

The plan calls for appointing a new prime minister acceptable to Aristide's Lavalas Party and the opposition coalition as a first step toward organizing elections that should have taken place last year.

The Japan Times Weekly: Feb. 28, 2004
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