The new democratic government began dismantling the military's propaganda apparatus Friday, halting all local current affairs programming on state radio and television.
The new information minister promised to overhaul the state media, which had been controlled by officials loyal to Port-au-Prince police chief Lt. Col. Joseph Michel Francois, one of the leaders of a September 1991 military coup."Beginning Sunday, you are going to see and hear a hell of a difference!" promised Herve Denis, sworn in Thursday with the rest of Prime Minister Robert Malval's Cabinet.
The new government is managing the transition between military-backed rule and ousted President Jean-Bertrand Aristide, who appointed Malval and is to return from exile Oct. 30 under a U.N. peace plan.
Since his overthrow, Aristide had not been heard uncensored on state media, news reporting was slanted and army repression denied.