US warns Haiti rebels to disband

The rebels moved into the Haitian capital in a carnival atmosphere

The US has warned Haiti's rebels to disarm and go home hours after their leader Guy Philippe said he was the new head of the country's military.

A state department official described the rebels as a "ragtag band of people" and said they had no place in the political process.

US forces are in Haiti trying to restore order since its president fled to Africa amid an armed revolt.

On Tuesday they reportedly thwarted a rebel bid to arrest the prime minister.

"[Guy Philippe] is not in control of anything but a ragtag band of people..." said Assistant US Secretary of State Roger Noriega in Washington.

"I think he will probably want to make himself scarce."

"The rebels need to disband and go back to their homes," State Department spokesman Richard Boucher added.

'Moral duty'

Mr Philippe had announced he planned to detain Prime Minister Yvon Neptune, who stayed on in office after President Jean-Bertrand Aristide's flight into exile.

But when his fighters arrived to make the arrest, they were deterred by the presence of US forces, Reuters news agency reports.

About 300 US marines are now in Haiti and reinforcements will take the total number to about 2,000.

Mr Philippe also said he welcomed the foreign forces now in Haiti but added it was his "moral duty" to protect Haitians.

He said the Haitian people wanted him to head their army while he himself had no desire to play a political role.

Mr Philippe also said he recognised the authority of Haiti's acting President, Boniface Alexandre, but warned that he must create a new army.

The UN has also warned of an impending humanitarian crisis in Haiti, which was already one of the world's poorest countries before the crisis began.

UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan said international help would be needed to ensure food stocks and medicines reached the Haitian people.

Human rights groups also voiced dismay at the presence of commanders suspected of massacres amongst the rebels.

The Caricom group of 15 Caribbean nations is beginning talks in Jamaica to discuss contributing peacekeepers.