U.S. Sending Marines to Haiti

The United States will send Marines to Haiti in the first phrase of an international security force following the ouster of President Jean-Bertrand Aristide, the Bush administration said Sunday.

The United States helped the democratically elected Aristide to depart, State Department spokesman Richard Boucher said. He provided no further details.

The administration planned to consult with allies about seeking a U.N. Security Council resolution that would authorize international support for a peaceful and constitutional transition of power, Boucher said.

“We have been informed that several other countries are prepared to join this mission,” Boucher said.

He said the countries want to help Haitians quickly form an independent government.

“We call on all Haitians to respect this peaceful and constitutional succession,” Boucher said.