Haiti rebels 'capture key city'

Rebels apparently met little resistance in Haiti's second city

Rebels fighting to oust Haiti's president say they have taken the nation's second city, Cap-Haitien, after launching an assault on Sunday.

Witnesses said there was little resistance as rebels entered the last government stronghold in the north.

A peace proposal brokered by diplomats remains on the table, but political opponents have not yet accepted it.

President Aristide has agreed to the plan which would curtail his powers but the armed rebels were not consulted.

Symbols targeted

The BBC's Stephen Gibbs in the capital Port-au-Prince, says Cap-Haitien appeared to fall relatively easily.

All four of Cap-Haitien's police posts were ransacked and set on fire

Rebels said about 200 fighters swept into the port city of 500,000 people and captured its airport.

At least two people were reported to have been killed.

All four police stations - symbols of President Jean-Bertrand Aristide's power - were looted and set on fire, while hundreds of prisoners were reportedly set free.

Cap-Haitien police commissioner Charles Chily told Reuters news agency he had requested support from the capital.

"They said they're coming. We're waiting," he was quoted as saying.

There were scenes of anarchy and jubilation as teenagers paraded in police hats and body armour and beer-drinking rebels handed over car keys to residents, the Associated Press news agency reported.

Thousands of people chanting "Down with Aristide!" marched with a convoy of eight cars commandeered by the rebels, AP said.

Some people, shouting "We're free!", tore posters of the president off walls, as looters began ransacking stores and homes.

Rebel commander Jean-Baptiste Joseph declared: "It's the army that's in charge here [in Cap-Haitien]. It's the army that will free Haiti," AP reported.

Our correspondent says the capital is calm but Cap-Haitien's fall to rebel forces would be a major setback for President Aristide's efforts to keep control there.

Peace plan pressure

The rebel movement of former gang members and disgruntled ex-soldiers is believed to be in control of about 12 towns and cities across the country.

More than 50 people have died in the two weeks since the most recent violent uprising began against President Aristide.

The political opposition, which does not support the rebels, and the armed gangs, accuse Mr Aristide of rigging elections four years ago which saw him voted in as president until 2006.

The latest rebel push puts the new peace plan under strain.

The negotiators are hoping to strike a deal with the opposition before a deadline they set of 2200GMT on Monday.

But the armed groups who are not connected to the political opposition say their uprising will continue until the president steps down.