France says Haiti’s Aristide signed resignation

PARIS, March 9 (AFP) – Jean-Bertrand Aristide signed a formal letter of resignation from office, the French foreign ministry said Tuesday, refuting the former Haitian leader’s claim that he remains the country’s elected president.

“Constitutional legality was respected. Jean-Bertrand Aristide resigned. His letter of resignation was formally put into effect,” said foreign ministry spokesman Herve Ladsous.

From his exile in the Central African Republic, Aristide on Monday insisted he was still officially president and called for peaceful resistance in Haiti to “restore constitutional order.”

He has also accused France of colluding with the United States to remove him from office, saying the two countries organised a “political kidnapping.”

“These remarks are out of place and inappropriate,” said Ladsous.The spokesman also expressed satisfaction at the nomination of Boniface Alexandre, who was installed Monday as Haiti’s provisional president.

“This is the legal consequence of Jean-Bertrand Aristide’s formal resignation,” he said.

© AFP

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