Port-au-Prince, March 10, 2004 -(AHP)- The Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs of South Africa, Aziz Pahad, visited President Aristide Wednesday in the central African Empire in order to obtain information regarding the circumstances in which the Chief of State had to leave the country on February 29th.

For her part, the the South African Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mme Zouma, indicated that she had received a call from her American counterpart, Colin Powell, giving her his version of the facts.

The South Africans do not appear to be convinced by the American version according to which Aristide left of his own volition and freely signed a letter of resignation.

According to diverse sources, the fact that South Africa has asked for a United Nations investigation proves that it has serious doubts.

The South African leaders are also in contact with CARICOM, whose member states have similar doubts. Their desire is that light be shed on what Aristide's lawyers have described as a modern coup d'etat.

The African Union had called Monday for an investigation under the aegis of the United Nations to shed light on the conditions of Pres. Aristide's departure, which the AU deems "unconstitutional". CARICOM also favors an investigation by the UN.

In addition, the statements made February 29 by U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell, that South Africa had refused to receive Jean Bertrand Aristide have never been confirmed by Pretoria.

 Sources have indicated that South African President Thabo Mbéki did not wish to become complicit in an American operation against President Aristide by immediately receiving him.

At the same time, Mr. Aristide's lawyer in France, Mr. Gilbert Collard, announced Wednesday that a complaint will soon be filed against the French and U.S. Ambassadors to Haiti, Thierry Burkard and James B. Foley, respectively, for "abduction".

Mr. Gilbert Collard reaffirmed the accusations made by Jean Bertrand Aristide over the airwaves of Radio France. Mr. Aristide said that he is the victim of a modern coup d'etat.

The complaint also involves the former French Ambassador to Haiti, Yves Gaudel, as well as writer Régis Debray and Véronique Albanel, who is the sister of France's Foreign Affairs Minister, Dominique de Villepin .