HAITI: JEAN BERTRAND ARISTIDE SWORN IN

(8 Feb 2001) French/Nat Jean-Bertrand Aristide was sworn in on Wednesday, returning to power as Haiti's president after five years on a promise to bring change to a country devastated by poverty and torn by political divisions. Aristide was welcomed by members of his government as he entered Parliament. And the mood on the streets was jubilant. Aristide is popular amongst much of Haiti's poor, who turned out in force to celebrate. Aristide, a former Roman Catholic priest, took the oath of office in front of Parliament while holding his hand on a Bible. He stood stone-faced through the swearing-in then smiled as his predecessor, Rene Preval, slipped the red-and-blue presidential sash over his left shoulder. Later on Wednesday to the sound of throbbing drumbeats and the cries of thousands dancing for joy, an inauguration ceremony was held at the presidential palace. In his inaugural address, Aristide made reference to the opposition coalition party in Haiti that opposes Aristide's presidential inauguration saying that Haiti now lives in a democracy and he therefore respects the opposition. SOUNDBITE: (French) "We are in a democracy. We respect peace and all men, all the political parties in opposition." SUPER CAPTION: Jean Bertrande Aristide, Haitian President Aristide has promised to bring change to this Caribbean nation devastated by poverty and torn by political rivalry. But he comes to office facing international isolation because of disputed elections last year. While Aristide's return is celebrated by many poor Haitians, it has been shunned by the international community. France and the European Union didn't send delegations to the inauguration in an expression of disapproval over the controversial elections. The United States only sent its ambassador. Aristide, 47, is also challenged by Haiti's opposition parties, which alleged fraud in the May vote. On Tuesday, the 15-party opposition alliance Convergence named former presidential candidate Gerard Gourgue, 75, as the country's provisional president in an alternative government. It also offered Aristide a seat on a three-member presidential council. An opposition premier would rule by decree, and general elections would be held by 2003, it said. Gerard Grougue commented after Aristide's inauguration that, for him, Aristide is a dictator as his only concern his own power and position. SOUNDBITE:(French) "Aristide is a dictator in the sense that he is looking only for personal power." SUPER CAPTION: Gerard Grougue, Opposition Leader Aristide became Haiti's first democratically elected president in a landslide victory in 1990, the army ousted him in September 1991, and a U-S military invasion restored him to power three years later. Constitutionally barred from running for a consecutive term, Aristide spent only a few months in office before stepping down in 1996 and handing power to his protege, Preval. In last year's elections, Aristide's Lavalas Family party won more than 80 percent of local and parliamentary seats. The Organization of American States said 10 Senate seats won by Aristide candidates should have gone to a second round vote, and some countries threatened to withhold aid. Opposition parties in Haiti do not accept Aristide's alleged win of those elections. In a letter to then-President Clinton in December, Aristide offered to rectify the election results, include opposition figures in his government and appoint a new provisional electoral council. But the opposition rejected his offers, calling for new elections. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter:   / ap_archive   Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​ Instagram:   / apnews   You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...