(Justin Stumberg/AP)
An LA fire team rescue a Haitian woman from a collapsed building in downtown Port-au-Prince
President Sarkozy of France has moved quickly to bury a transatlantic spat after one of his ministers complained that American soldiers were effectively "occupying" earthquake-ravaged Haiti.
The French minister for international co-operation, Alain Joyandet, officially protested on Saturday after US military controllers at Port-au-Prince airport turned back a French aid flight carrying a field hospital. French and European aid agencies have also complained of obstruction.
In a particularly undiplomatic outburst yesterday, Mr Joyandet went even further, demanding that the United Nations clarify the Americans' role in the aid effort. “This is about helping Haiti, not about occupying Haiti," he said.
The remark betrayed widespread sensitivity in France - Haiti's former colonial master - about President Obama's decision to order a "swift and aggressive" military campaign to deliver humanitarian aid to Haiti, where a 7.0 magnitude quake last Tuesday is thought to have killed more than 100,000 people.
But in a statement this morning the Elysee Palace insisted that President Sarkozy was entirely supportive of the American campaign, which he discussed in a phone call with Mr Obama last week. The statement praised America's "exceptional mobilisation for Haiti" and the "essential role" it was playing on the ground and said that Paris was "entirely satisfied" at its cooperation with Washington.
The comments came as scores of US troops landed on the lawn of Haiti’s shattered presidential palace today and the UN said it would add 3,500 police and soldiers to the aid effort. It is hoped the UN force will help control the outbursts of looting and violence that have slowed distribution of supplies.
The Security Council approved adding 2,000 troops to the 7,000 military peacekeepers already in the country as well as 1,500 more police to the 2,100-strong international force. The arrival of the six US Navy helicopters was welcomed by the Haitians in the area who jammed the fence of the palace grounds as they landed. “We are happy that they are coming, because we have so many problems,” said Fede Felissaint, a hairdresser.
With Haiti’s main port out of operation, the huge international relief operation has had to use Port-au-Prince’s congested airport, which has delayed the arrival of urgently needed medical and food supplies.
The US military has also started airdrops of food and water, delivering 14,500 meals and 15,000 litres of water to a site just outside Port-au-Prince... more
The French minister for international co-operation, Alain Joyandet, officially protested on Saturday after US military controllers at Port-au-Prince airport turned back a French aid flight carrying a field hospital. French and European aid agencies have also complained of obstruction.
In a particularly undiplomatic outburst yesterday, Mr Joyandet went even further, demanding that the United Nations clarify the Americans' role in the aid effort. “This is about helping Haiti, not about occupying Haiti," he said.
The remark betrayed widespread sensitivity in France - Haiti's former colonial master - about President Obama's decision to order a "swift and aggressive" military campaign to deliver humanitarian aid to Haiti, where a 7.0 magnitude quake last Tuesday is thought to have killed more than 100,000 people.
But in a statement this morning the Elysee Palace insisted that President Sarkozy was entirely supportive of the American campaign, which he discussed in a phone call with Mr Obama last week. The statement praised America's "exceptional mobilisation for Haiti" and the "essential role" it was playing on the ground and said that Paris was "entirely satisfied" at its cooperation with Washington.
The comments came as scores of US troops landed on the lawn of Haiti’s shattered presidential palace today and the UN said it would add 3,500 police and soldiers to the aid effort. It is hoped the UN force will help control the outbursts of looting and violence that have slowed distribution of supplies.
The Security Council approved adding 2,000 troops to the 7,000 military peacekeepers already in the country as well as 1,500 more police to the 2,100-strong international force. The arrival of the six US Navy helicopters was welcomed by the Haitians in the area who jammed the fence of the palace grounds as they landed. “We are happy that they are coming, because we have so many problems,” said Fede Felissaint, a hairdresser.
With Haiti’s main port out of operation, the huge international relief operation has had to use Port-au-Prince’s congested airport, which has delayed the arrival of urgently needed medical and food supplies.
The US military has also started airdrops of food and water, delivering 14,500 meals and 15,000 litres of water to a site just outside Port-au-Prince... more
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