Reply #44: LA Times: "Haitian authorities said he...could be released before the end of the day."

[Cerridwen]

Reporting from Port-au-Prince, Haiti — Haitian authorities took deposed dictator Jean-Claude "Baby Doc" Duvalier to a courthouse for questioning Tuesday amid calls that he be charged with crimes against humanity.

Police led the 59-year-old Duvalier from the luxury hotel room where he had stayed since his surprise return Sunday after 25 years of exile, past the pool, through the kitchen and out the back to a waiting dark-blue Nissan patrol sport-utility vehicle. He waved to waiters, hotel staff and hordes of reporters. He moved unsteadily and received helped.

A police convoy escorted Duvalier and his entourage to a courthouse. Small groups of supporters chanted his name, jumped up and down and demanded he be freed.

<snip>

Haitian authorities said he would be questioned and could be released before the end of the day. It was not clear what, if any, charges the Haitian judiciary would be contemplating. Under international law, however, Duvalier could face indictment for the alleged murder and torture of thousands of opponents, human-rights activists say.


http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-0119-haiti-duvalier-20110119,0,1209437.story