The leader of self-styled rebels who helped oust Haitian President Jean-Bertrand Aristide has declared himself in charge of the country's security forces.
Guy Philippe, speaking at a news conference today and surrounded by members of his own armed rebel force and Haitian National Police also said he would respect the authority of the acting president, Boniface Alexandre, sworn in when Aristide left.
"I am commander in chief of the national resistance front, military chief," he said. Asked if he was in control of the whole country's security services, he replied, "As far as concerned the military and the police, yes."
Asked under what conditions he would disarm, Philippe said: "The president is the legal president, so we will follow his orders." Asked whether that meant he would disarm his forces if called on to do so by the president, he said, "We will"
The 36-year-old former soldier and police chief was speaking as the United States and other countries built up an international force in the country to restore order after weeks of turmoil that led to Aristide's departure on Sunday, creating fears of a power vacuum.
Philippe led a rebellion of former Haitian Army soldiers and gang members who that overran towns and cities in the north of Haiti. He headed a victory parade through the streets of Port-au-Prince on Monday and later met with the leaders of opposition political parties.
Aristide disbanded the army when he was restored to power by a U.S. invasion in 1994 and created the country's first civilian police force, an ill-trained and ill-equipped 4,000 member force that was no match for the rebels.