Bon Voyage, Aristide

Haiti's embattled president, Jean-Bertrand Aristide, has left his country, reportedly for South Africa. Panama, a popular choice for outsted tyrants, including Aristide's predecessor in Haiti, is apparently booked up).

One of the frustrating elements of the coverage is that the politics of the opposition is never made clear (maybe they don't have any?). Aristide is a legendary thug, but it seems as if those seeking to replace him are simply more of the same. This Reuters article is typical of the vague coverage:

Rebel soldiers in Cap Haitien, the rebel stronghold in the north overrun last weekend, began celebrating in the streets even before Aristide's departure was confirmed. The armed rebels, led by a former police chief and a former death squad leader, had said they were advancing on the capital.

For more on Haiti, go here.