Aristide flees, Marines in Haiti

US Marines landed in Haiti early Monday morning after President Jean-Bertrand Aristide, the country's first elected president, resigned and flew to an unknown destination under US escort.

His sudden exit followed pressure from Washington and the threat of an invasion by rebel forces gathered outside the capital Port au Prince, report agencies.

US President George W. Bush ordered the deployment of the US Marines to the country as part of an "interim international force" endorsed at an emergency UN Security Council meeting Sunday. Forces from France and other nations are expected to arrive soon to help restore order in the nation.

Amidst looting and rioting in the capital, Haiti's Supreme Court chief justice, Boniface Alexandre, was sworn in as the head of a transitional government until elections next year as per the stipulations of the country's Constitution. Prime Minister Yvon Neptune will also stay on until then.

The rebels, led by former army officers removed by Aristide following a 1991 coup in which he was ousted, had forged a political-military coalition which rejected a US-endorsed power-sharing proposal and threatened to attack the capital unless Aristide stepped down.

The news of Aristide's exit fuelled the carnage in the city, and unconfirmed reports said bodies were strewn across many streets. Curfew was declared after 6 pm.

Aristide, in his letter of resignation released Sunday, said he decided to resign to prevent further bloodshed.

'The Constitution is the guarantee of life and peace.It hould not be drowned in the Haitian people's blood. This is why tonight, if it is my resignation that will prevent a blood bath, I accept to go with the hope that there will be life and not death. Life for everybody, death for nobody by respecting the Constitution and have it respected, Haiti will find life and peace,' he said.