Haitian President Jean-Bertrand Aristide indicated Friday that he will consider staying in power for three more years as demanded by his supporters despite next month's presidential election.
His careful comments marked the first time that Aristide has publicly said he might remain in office to make up for the years he was ousted by the military.When he was restored to power in October 1994 by a U.S.-led multinational military force, Aristide repeatedly said he would comply with the Haitian constitution and leave office when his term ends in February 1996.
But to the cheers of hundreds of left-wing supporters on Friday, Aristide endorsed a proposal that he remain in office to serve out the three years he spent in exile following a 1991 military coup.
"If you want three years, I will not turn my back on you," Aristide said at a meeting at the presidential palace with delegates from this week's national conference to discuss Haiti's political, economic and social problems.
But, he added immediately, "If you want elections, I will not turn my back on you."
The crowd, made up mostly of grass-roots supporters of Aristide's Lavalas party, broke into excited cheers and began chanting, "Three more years! Three more years!"
Aristide's remarks are likely to throw the campaign for the Dec. 17 presidential election into turmoil. With less than a month remaining, there has been little campaigning by the 14 declared candidates.
Aristide did not specifically mention the election in his speech, and gave no indication of whether he might try to postpone or reschedule them.
A U.S. diplomat expressed surprise at Aristide's speech, which came just one day after a three-hour meeting between the president and U.S. national security adviser Anthony Lake.
"The policy of the United States has been predicated from the beginning on Aristide leaving office on Feb. 7, 1996," said the diplomat, who spoke on condition of anonymity.
Aristide made it clear that he has not made a final decision on whether to remain in office, and that he would listen to the views of the private sector first.