"South Africa rejects Haitian claim - Pahad"

The government says it "takes strong exception" to an accusation that President Thabo Mbeki has failed to respect international law by allegedly allowing deposed Haitian president Jean-Bertrand Aristide to incite violence in his homeland from South Africa.

"The South African government rejects with contempt the attack on the integrity of President Mbeki, and dismisses the insinuation that its territory is being used as a springboard by President Jean-Bertrand Aristide to destabilise Haiti through violent means," Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister Aziz Pahad said.

No evidence existed to back up the claim that Aristide was involved in any activities aimed at the destabilisation of Haiti.

According to media reports earlier on Monday, the accusation was made by Haitian Prime Minister Gerard Latortue, who was quoted as saying "no respectable president would allow a person in his territory to organise violence in another. Mr Mbeki is not respecting international law".

Full Article : iol.co.za