Aristide struggles to regain towns from looting rebels

HAITI'S second-largest city remained without power after a food depot was looted and torched in the latest troubles to hit the stricken Caribbean republic.

Tensions spilled over in several towns as the government of President Jean-Bertrand Aristide struggled to win back control of towns taken over by armed rebels.

The population of the northern city of Cap-Haitien, the country's second biggest, was without power amid increasing fears that groups who support the president would retaliate if rebels tried to take over the city.

A food storage depot was looted and burned down during the night and businesses were badly hit by the tense atmosphere yesterday.

Many businesses owned by people believed to oppose Mr Aristide have been burned down in recent days. Police took back three of the dozen cities taken since last Thursday.

Rebels calling themselves the National Reconstruction and Liberation Front said they were determined to fight to "liberate" the whole country.

"The Haitian revolution is on the march," rebel spokesman Winter Etienne said in a statement. Mr Aristide, who has vowed to stay in office until his term ends in 2006, has been ruling by decree after failed elections last year left Haiti without a functioning legislature.

The United Nations warned Haiti faced a "major humanitarian crisis" as the United States urged Americans to leave Haiti. US officials also said they had no plans to intervene militarily to restore order.