PORT-AU-PRINCE - Supporters of President Jean-Bertrand Aristide hold up posters while marching through the streets calling for his return in Port-au-Prince, Haiti yesterday. (Photo: AP)

ST GEORGE'S, Grenada (AP) - Caribbean leaders will make a final decision next month on whether to restore full diplomatic ties with Haiti, officials said yesterday.

Leaders in the 15-member Caribbean Community met in Grenada for a day, saying they would announce their decision on August 16. Relations between the 15-member bloc and Haiti collapsed when a United States-backed government took over after rebels ousted Haitian President Jean-Bertrand Aristide on February 29, and Jamaica offered temporary refuge to Aristide.

Five foreign ministers from the region visited Haiti earlier this month and said they were satisfied with Haiti's pledges to hold new elections next year and uphold justice, indicating the way had been cleared for restoring ties.

But friction still exists between some members who question the legitimacy of the interim government and believe Aristide was forcibly removed from power.

Those attending Grenada's closed-door meeting yesterday heard a report from the foreign ministers who concluded their visit July 14. They were expected to make a recommendation to other Caribbean leaders who were not present.

"We have reached some conclusion on those recommendations and we will be formulating our position ... to pass on to the heads (of government) for their endorsement," Caribbean Community Secretary-General Edwin Carrington said, declining other details.

Prime Ministers Keith Mitchell of Grenada and Baldwin Spencer of Antigua and Barbuda were joined in the talks by President Ronald Venetiaan of Suriname, the foreign ministers of Barbados and Trinidad and other officials.

Aristide has accused the United States of cooperating with the rebels and kidnapping him, an allegation the United States has denied.

The Caribbean Community has called for an investigation, and the Organisation of American States has agreed to look into the circumstances of Aristide's departure.

The bloc has laid out several conditions for recognising the interim government of Prime Minister Gerard Latortue, including new elections and prosecuting known criminals in armed factions of all political camps.

Some critics say the interim government should do more to crack down on rebels who remain armed and control parts of the country despite the presence of UN peacekeepers.
Haitian officials have promised parliamentary and presidential elections next year.

Haiti, with some eight million people, is the poorest country in the Americas and the Caribbean Community's most populous.

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