BBC Thursday, December 10, 1998 Published at 01:00 GMT
World: Europe
France not opposed to
trial for Duvalier
The French acting Interior Minister, Jean-Jack
Queyranne, has said that he is not opposed to the
idea of putting the former Haitian ruler,
Jean-Claude Duvalier, on trial.
Mr Queyranne said that those who have
committed acts against their people must be able
to give an account of themselves.
His comments follow calls by Haitian exiles living
in France, for Mr Duvalier to be arrested and tried,
for his alleged part in thousands of political
assassinations carried out during his period in
power.
Mr Duvalier - also known as Baby Doc - has lived
in France for the last twelve years, but his precise
whereabouts are now unknown.
Correspondents say the moves against Mr
Duvalier are inspired by efforts to extradite the
Chilean former military ruler, General Augusto
Pinochet, to Spain.
