Haiti’s president resigns as rebels surround capital PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti — President Jean-Bertrand Aristide resigned and flew into exile Sunday, pressured by a bloody rebellion and the United States. Gunfire crackled as the capital fell into chaos, and U.S. Marines arrived in the country. The contingent totaled fewer than 100 Marines and more were to arrive Monday. They were the vanguard of a multinational force that the U.N. Security Council approved late Sunday night, and France said it would send troops on Monday. ‘‘The government believes it is essential that Haiti have a hopeful future. This is the beginning of a new chapter,’’ President Bush said at the White House. ‘‘I would urge the people of Haiti to reject violence, to give this break from the past a chance to work. And the United States is prepared to help.’’ Aristide’s whereabouts were uncertain late Sunday, with officials saying his jet refueled in the Caribbean nation of Antigua. A senior Caribbean Community official said Aristide told him during the refueling stop he was bound for South Africa. After word spread of the president’s departure, angry Aristide supporters roamed the streets armed with old rifles, pistols, machetes and sticks. Some fired wildly into crowds on the Champs de Mars, the main square in front of the National Palace. The head of Haiti’s supreme court, Boniface Alexandre, said he was taking charge of the government, and a key rebel leader said he welcomed the arrival of foreign troops. The crisis has been brewing since Aristide’s party swept flawed legislative elections in 2000, prompting international donors to freeze millions of dollars in aid. It was unclear where Aristide would go. U.S. National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice said he was going to a ‘‘third’’ country, meaning he would not take refuge in the United States as he did the last time he was ousted, in 1991. Aristide’s jet refueled on the island of Antigua and was en route to South Africa, government and airport officials in that Caribbean country said. But officials in Johannesburg said there had been no recent contact with Aristide nor an offer of asylum. Guy Philippe, the rebel leader, told The Associated Press his forces would head for the capital but would not engage in any further fighting. ‘‘The time is not for fighting anymore,’’ Philippe said.
Grocery workers approve contract with strong vote LOS ANGELES — Southern California grocery workers voted overwhelmingly to approve a new contract agreement with supermarket operators, ending a strike and lockout that inconvenienced millions of customers and cost three major grocery chains hundreds of millions of dollars. After a two-day vote, 86 percent of grocery workers who cast ballots approved the contract negotiated by the United Food and Commercial Workers union, the union said Sunday in a statement. Workers were expected to be back on the job within days. The contract covers 70,000 workers, employed by Albertsons Inc., Kroger Co., which operates Ralphs stores, and Safeway Inc., which operates Vons and Pavilions. It requires employees to pay for health benefits for the first time and includes two one-time bonuses for hours already worked but no raise. Union leaders said they wanted to protect affordable health care, pensions and job security. ‘‘These three goals were accomplished in the new agreement, indicating the workers’ struggle and sacrifice were worthwhile,’’ the statement read. Many employees who said they voted to ratify the contract said they were eager to return to their jobs. Some said the offer was not much different from one they received in October – one rejected by the union. Sunny Kim, 32, a service manager at Ralphs, said she was disappointed with the results, though she hadn’t seen the contract. ‘‘Why did we go on strike? I lost a lot of money for nothing. I think the guys were misled,’’ Kim said. Still, she said she felt ‘‘wonderful’’ about the opportunity to go back to work.
Reports from Bruin wire services.