Chaos and fear grip Haiti capital

Barricades of burnt-out cars are going up around the capital

Looters are rampaging through the Haitian capital, Port-au-Prince, which advancing rebels have vowed to capture.

Supporters of President Jean-Bertrand Aristide erected barricades across the city after the political opposition rejected an international peace plan.

France has called for a foreign force to restore order immediately, and blamed Mr Aristide for the crisis.

But US President George W Bush said an international security presence should come only after a peace settlement.

Mr Bush also warned Haitians not to try to flee the country.

In Port-au-Prince, food warehouses, car dealers and restaurants were looted as gunfire rang out.

We will turn back any refugee that attempts to reach our shore US President George W Bush

Supporters of President Aristide have put up barricades made with overturned cars throughout the city.

The BBC's Stephen Gibbs in Port-au-Prince says many militiamen, wearing ski masks, have been stopping cars, threatening and sometimes robbing the passengers.

Foreigners are trying to flee to the airport. A group of non-essential UN personnel asked for protection from US marines to get there.

Many governments are putting in place emergency procedures to get their citizens out.

Canada has despatched troops to protect its citizens as they leave. Spain is sending a chartered plane.

Giving peace a chance

On Wednesday French Foreign Minister Dominique de Villepin called for an "immediate" international civilian force to restore order.

He also condemned Mr Aristide, hinting strongly that he should resign.

Aristide's men 'are determined to defend Port-au-Prince'

"He bears grave responsibility for the current situation. It is up to him to draw the conclusions within the bounds of the law," Mr de Villepin said.

The statement came after President Bush said the US would support an international security presence - but only once a peace deal had been reached.

"First things first," he said.

The US, Canada and the European Union have drawn up a peace plan involving a coalition government.

It has been accepted by Mr Aristide. But Haiti's political opposition - which does not support the rebels - has rejected it, insisting the president should step down.

One of the main rebel leaders, Guy Philippe, said the insurgents would lay down their arms if President Aristide stepped down.

"We just want to give a chance to peace," he said.

Keep out

Ten years ago President Bill Clinton sent 20,000 US troops to Haiti to restore President Aristide to power.

BBC Pentagon correspondent Nick Childs says the US is reluctant to intervene now because it sees the situation as much more complicated than in 1994, when a democratic government was waiting in the wings.

The US military is also overstretched and is reluctant to take on additional missions, our correspondent adds.

On Wednesday Mr Bush also reaffirmed that Haitians should not try to flee to the US.

"I have made it abundantly clear to the coast guard that we will turn back any refugee that attempts to reach our shore," he said.

The rebels have captured the northern half of Haiti since the uprising was launched in early February.

The insurgents are a coalition of former Aristide supporters and exiled soldiers who served under the military junta ousted in 1994.