New pm to seek unity.

NEW PM TO SEEK UNITY. Haiti's new prime minister Gerard Latortue, 69, promised to unite his rebellion-scarred country, reports AP (March 13, 2004). U.S. Marines, engaged in nightly gunbattles with looters and dissidents, guarded the National Palace as Latortue took the oath of office in front

Latortue said he would begin visiting cities across Haiti, starting with his hometown of Gonaives, where the rebellion that helped push Aristide from office began on Feb. 5. The rebellion ended on Feb. 29, when Aristide fled to exile in Africa under pressure from the United States and France. LaTortue said that he wants to hold legislative elections in six to eight months. Latortue, a U.N. career officer and business consultant, arrived in Haiti after years in Florida;

U.S.-led peacekeepers said Marines came under fire at an industrial park producing garments for American companies, and gunmen shot up a nearby car dealership. U.S. Marines trained their rifles on workers and checked identity papers at the industrial park, acting on reports gunmen were planning to confiscate paychecks. Haitan exports to the U.S. (mostly light manufactured goods) rose to US$341 million in 2003, vs. US$263 million in 2002, according to the U.S. Commerce Department, but data for the first two months of 2004 were not available).