US rattles sabre again ovaer Haiti

Washington (Reuter) - The White House said yesterday that its patience was wearing thin over Haiti and that unless the junta stepped down there would be a US-led invasion.

The comments, plus a Pentagon announcement that seven cargo ships are being brought into operation for possible use in a Haiti operation, are all part of the sabre-rattling to persuade Haiti's military leaders into stepping aside voluntarily.

Washington wants Jean-Bertrand Aristide, Haiti's first democratically elected president, restored to power. He was ousted in a coup three years ago.