President George W. Bush tonight rebuffed Haitian President Jean-Bertrand Aristide's appeal for immediate security assistance to head off a rebel advance and warned Haitians not to flee to the United States.
Mr Aristide, trying to fend off a bloody revolt against his presidency by insurgents, had appealed for international help for his outgunned police. But Mr Bush was insistent that peacekeepers only be sent once a political settlement to the crisis was reached.
The United States has been criticized for doing too little to staunch the chaos in the poorest nation in the Americas. US officials have emphasized negotiation and said security forces should be sent only after violence abates. Critics fear waiting for a peace deal will allow more chaos.
"Incident to a political settlement, we will encourage the international community to provide a security presence," Mr Bush told reporters. He said such a force was being discussed with US allies,
but gave no details. The first item of business, he said, "is to work on a political solution."
White House spokesman Mr Scott McClellan, elaborating on Bush's comments, said the international community would be prepared to police a political settlement but not go in before one is reached. He suggested the US contribution would be limited.
Canada, a key US ally in the crisis, has said it would be "madness" to send reinforcements now because of the violence, while France has been noncommittal.