Several officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the region's leaders made the decision by consensus on the second and final day of their summit in Basseterre, St. Kitts and Nevis.

They said they decided not to have formal relations with the new government due to concerns about the departure of President Jean-Bertrand Aristide on Feb. 29 and the precedent it could set.

On March 25, leaders demanded the U.N. General Assembly investigate Aristide's claim that he was abducted at gunpoint by U.S. agents when he left as rebels threatened to attack Haiti's capital.

The Japan Times Weekly: April 3, 2004
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