In Haiti, an official with Aristide's Lavalas Party confirmed that his "return is imminent," but declined to say how or when he's coming back.
"It's an important event for the people in Haiti because they have waited so long for this," said Maryse Narcisse, the head of Lavalas' executive council. "He will not be traveling incognito. People will know he is coming."
The party has been barred from taking part in the vote, and thousands of his supporters marched last month, threatening to disrupt the election if he is not allowed to return. Many said they would boycott the March 20 runoff to a disputed presidential vote because any election excluding Lavalas is not valid.
The United States has said Aristide's presence "would prove to be an unfortunate distraction to the people of Haiti," amid fears it could change the course of the race by causing unrest.
On Friday, U.S. State Department spokesman Mark Toner said: "This is a matter for the government of Haiti."
Aristide emerged as a leading voice for Haiti's poor and helped lead a popular revolt that forced an end to the Duvalier family's 29-year dictatorship. Aristide became the country's first democratically elected president.
This article appeared on page A - 2 of the San Francisco Chronicle
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