S. American leaders pledge help for Haiti

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QUITO, Ecuador, Feb. 10 (UPI) -- South American leaders are meeting this week in Ecuador to discuss short- and long-term aid to Haiti.

Leaders of the Union of South American Nations would discuss an emergency rebuilding plan to help Haiti's near-term recover from the magnitude-7.0 earthquake that struck Jan. 12 and a long-term program to help rebuild the country's infrastructure, The Santiago (Chile) Times reported Wednesday.

"The most important thing that we can do is to assist in rebuilding the country's government and government institutions, without which the country cannot construct its own future," Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa said.

Chile sent security forces and medical supplies to Haiti and pledged to develop housing for children, rebuild public buildings, provide technical support for agriculture and offer scholarships to Haitians planning to study at universities in Chile.