PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti, March 3 (UPI) -- Gunfire was reportedly exchanged Wednesday in Port-au-Prince between rebels and supporters of deposed Haitian President Jean-Bertrand Aristide.
U.S. Marines guarding the National Palace did not interfere with the gun battles, during which police allied with rebel soldiers exchanged fire with Aristide supporters, the New York Times reported.
But the Marines did intervene on the road to the airport to keep rebels from interfering with convoys of Aristide backers who were trying to leave the country, the report said.
The BBC earlier reported Guy Philippe, leader of the Haiti rebel movement, had told his fighters to lay down their arms.
According to the New York Times report, Philippe said his group was prepared to turn their weapons over to Interim President Boniface Alexandre.
But Alexandre, who is chief justice of the Haitian Supreme Court, has not been seen in public since a Sunday news conference when he announced he assume the president's office.
