Aristide Flees Haiti; Judge Claims Power

President Jean-Bertrand Aristide resigned and fled the country Sunday, bowing to pressure from a bloody rebellion at home and governments abroad. Gunfire rang out through the capital and black smoke billowed from the city center.

Supreme Court Justice Boniface Alexandre declared three hours later he was taking charge of the country under the constitution. He urged calm after more than three weeks of violence.

“The task will not be an easy one,” Alexandre, who is in his 60s, said at a news conference. “Haiti is in crisis. … It needs all its sons and daughters. No one should take justice into their own hands.”

A jet carrying Aristide landed on the island Antigua for refueling and headed to South Africa, local radio stations reported. His prime minister, Yvon Neptune, said at a press conference that the ex-leader resigned to “prevent bloodshed.”

Despite Alexandre’s declaration that he was in charge, the Haitian constitution calls for parliament to approve him as leader and the legislature has not met since early this year when lawmakers’ terms expired.