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PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti - Escorted by U.S. diplomatic security agents, Haitian President Jean-Bertrand Aristide fled the country after resigning shortly before dawn Sunday morning, in what one diplomat described as "a patriotic gesture" for the good of his country - and maybe his life.
As the capital fell into chaos, President Bush sent in the Marines. The first contingent, fewer than 100 troops, arrived late Sunday, the vanguard of a multinational force approved unanimously by the United Nations Security Council in an emergency session Sunday night. France said it would send troops today.
In accordance with the Haitian constitution, Boniface Alexandre, head of the Supreme Court, was sworn in as the country's new leader. Aristide's departure aboard a private jet for exile came after days of intense diplomatic pressure, an armed revolt in the north of the country and two days of anarchy in the capital. It was barely 32 hours after he said in his last address to the nation as president: "I will be at my desk on Monday."
His location was unclear. Most media services reported he was headed for the Central African Republic, though he also could be going to South Africa. Neither is likely to be his final destination.
Gunfire rang out across Haiti's capital as armed progovernment gangs, known as chimeres, continued to roam the streets threatening journalists and vowing to defend Aristide. In the streets outside the presidential palace, police riding in pickups sought out chimeres and fired indiscriminately into crowds of looters, killing several people.
"It's a very dangerous moment for Haiti and the Haitian people," said Prime Minister Yvon Neptune at a news conference in his office, accompanied by the ambassadors of the United States and France, and surrounded by heavily armed U.S. security agents and French gendarmes.
Aristide had reluctantly agreed to abdicate to prevent bloodshed, Neptune said. He added: "President Aristide wanted it otherwise, but unfortunately it can't happen that way."
In his resignation letter, dated Saturday, Aristide said, "The Constitution is the guarantee of life and peace. It should not be drowned in the Haitian people's blood. This is why tonight, if it is my resignation that will prevent a bloodbath, I agree to go with the hope that there will be life and not death."
Addressing the Haitian people, especially those with guns, Neptune exhorted them to follow the president's example of "personal sacrifice" and stop the violence. "We want Haiti to be a country that does not have guns anymore," he said.
In Haiti's second largest city, Cap-Haitien, which rebels took a week ago, crowds danced and sang in the streets. Leaders of the National Resistance Front for the Liberation of Haiti said they would honor their pledge to lay down their weapons upon Aristide's departure.
To assist in a smooth transition, Neptune said, he and other members of Aristide's Cabinet would remain in office until a new government is formed.
At the news conference, U.S. ambassador to Haiti James Foley announced that a multinational force would arrive "very soon." He did not say how many troops were coming, nor which countries would be sending them.
More Marines were likely to be flown in over the next few days. They are in addition to 50 members of a Marine antiterrorism security team that has been in Port-au-Prince for several days to help secure the U.S. Embassy.
In his remarks announcing the dispatch of Marines on Sunday, Bush said Aristide's departure offers Haiti a "hopeful future" and called on Haitians to reject violence and "give this break from the past a chance to work." He called Sunday's events "the beginning of a new chapter in the country's history."
Foley denied that Aristide had been forced to resign.
"We didn't request his departure," he said. "President Aristide made a decision for the good of Haiti," he added, calling it a "patriotic gesture."
Once the president made that decision, "the U.S. responded to President Aristide's request to facilitate his swift departure of the country," Foley said.
It was nonetheless an ignominious exit from power, almost 10 years after American troops invaded the country to restore Aristide as the country's democratically elected leader. The arrival of French troops also comes only weeks after Aristide led the country in celebrating its 200th anniversary of independence from France, after a bloody slave rebellion. It became the world's first black republic.
On the streets of the capital Sunday, Haitians at first gathered in small groups by roadsides to celebrate a new day in their nation's turbulent history.
"We are very happy. Today we can go out and face the fear," said Rene Thomas, a 27-year-old graphic artist walking with friends along a main road. "But we are waiting for the international force to bring the new democracy and make peace. But if they don't come quickly there will be more bloodshed. There are still chimeres in the streets with guns who are killing people."
Hundreds of prisoners broke out of their cells in the main police station in Port-au-Prince and Petionville, a wealthy suburb. But police later restored order in Petionville with the help of armed civilians. Crowds cheered the unexpected arrival of the 50 or so rebels, who turned out to be members of the rebel army. They said they had infiltrated the city two weeks ago and kept their guns hidden.
"We are working with the police to repress the chimeres," said their commander, Faustin Miradieu, 38, a former sublieutenant in the disbanded Haitian army. "We are going to liberate the streets."
Foley assured Haitians that the United States and the international community would step in quickly to "fill the void that exists in this country."
An "action plan" proposed last week by the Caribbean Community, of which Haiti is a member, will now go into effect, Foley said. This envisions the creation of a tripartite commission made up of Haitian government officials, opposition leaders and members from the international community.
The commission will choose a council of seven eminent citizens who will select a new prime minister to head a government of national reconciliation.
"Haiti is no longer alone. The whole world is united to help Haiti," Foley said.
- Information from the Associated Press and New York Times was used in this report.