Haitian Rebels Admit US Funding

Billy Augustine, a 23-year-old rebel, wears a bandanna printed with the U.S. flag around his neck. "I think the U.S. has enough proof to know that Aristide cannot run the country any longer," Augustine said, an assault rifle on his lap. "We've been wishing they could do more."

Hotel managers say Philippe has paid the tab for the dozens of rebels, though they won't give the amount.

http://www.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/americas/02/28/rebel.internet.ap/

The United States has blamed Haitian President Jean-Bertrand Aristide for the crisis in his country.
The White House on Saturday questioned Mr. Aristide's fitness to govern the nation. A written statement said the long-simmering crisis in Haiti is largely of Mr. Aristide's making. It said his failure to adhere to democratic principles has contributed to the deep polarization and violent unrest in the country.

http://www.voanews.com/article.cfm?objectID=DAD071F2-C80B-4C53-8AED1A8A7AD8B628

Rebel leader Philippe said that while his forces will continue to converge near the capital, he will hold off attacking in response to the U.S. appeals, which he said he read on the Internet.
...
In its statement, the U.S. Embassy, which has rebuffed Aristide's pleas to send a small peacekeeping force, urged Haiti's leader to tell his followers to stop "spreading terror and attacking civilians and the general population ... in the name of Jean-Bertrand Aristide."
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/news/archive/2004/02/28/international2004EST0623.DTL