Aristide rejects US-backed peace plan

WASHINGTON (Reuter) - Haiti's President-in-exile Jean-Bertrand Aristide yesterday rejected a new United States-backed plan for resolving his nation's political crisis that includes a call for appointing a new prime minister. 'To appoint a prime minister now would be irresponsible,' he said in a statement.

Under the plan, naming a new prime minister would be the first step in forming a broad-based government able to command a parliamentary majority, which could set in motion a political process leading eventually to Mr Aristide's return to power.

It was drawn up by members of a Haitian parliamentary delegation that has been in the US for the past week. But Mr Aristide refuses to meet the group despite US urging, and instead calls for increased economic sanctions against Haiti's military rulers.