America curbs Haiti refugees

MIAMI (AP) - US ships and planes will encircle Haiti to prevent a feared exodus of up to 200,000 refugees, the head of the US Coast Guard said yesterday.

'This is not a blockade,' said Admiral J William Kime, calling the effort a humanitarian move.

President-elect Bill Clinton said on Thursday that he would have the Coast Guard continue to intercept and return Haitians 'for the time being'. Thousands were said to be preparing to depart because of Clinton's campaign pledge to provide them refuge until democracy was restored in Haiti.