Unrest hit the capital again yesterday as Aristide loyalists set up flaming barricades and stoned cars. There were no immediate reports of serious injury.
After five days of private meetings, the seven-member Council of Sages settled on Latortue, also a former UN official and an international business consultant. Now Latortue and interim President Boniface Alexandre will try to work toward organizing elections and building a new government.
Latortue, who will replace Prime Minister Yvon Neptune, told Reuters that he would work to disarm the country, which has been racked by violence, and bring his divided people together.
"I hope at least I will create a country to which most Haitians will want to return, including myself," he told the news agency said from his home in Boca Raton, Fla. He was expected in Port-au-Prince today or tomorrow.
Neptune stayed in his post even after Aristide fled the country Feb. 29. Aristide opponents have demanded that Neptune be replaced.
Also yesterday, CIA Director George J. Tenet warned that in Haiti, "a humanitarian disaster or mass migration remains possible."
"A cycle of clashes and revenge killings could easily be set off, given the large number of angry, well-armed people on both sides," he told the Senate Armed Services Committee. "Improving security will require the difficult task of disarming armed groups and augmenting and retraining a national security force."
Aristide, meanwhile, has insisted from exile in Africa that he is still president of Haiti, saying he was removed from office by the US government.
State Department officials have denied that allegation. But the 53-nation African Union and the 15-nation Caribbean Community have said they are investigating.
Ira Kurzban, a Miami-based lawyer for Aristide, said that he has called on US Secretary of State Colin L. Powell to investigate.
"The kidnapping by the US was part of a coup d'etat," Kurzban said.
