Haiti Frees 3 Coup Chiefs; U.S. Next Stop

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti — The government said today that it freed three military commanders who led a failed coup attempt and gave them safe passage to the United States. Mutinous soldiers surrendered control of the airport and returned to their barracks.

State television announced Lt. Col. Himmler Rebu, commander of the Leopards Battalion; Col. Phillipe Biamby, commander of the presidential guard, and Col. Leonce Qualo, an administrative officer at army headquarters, were freed.

‘Foolhardy’ Attempt

A government communique identified Rebu, Biamby and Qualo as leaders of what it called a “foolhardy” attempt Sunday to overthrow the government of Lt. Gen. Prosper Avril.

The president “magnanimously” decided to release the officers and they were escorted to the border of the Dominican Republic on Monday night to get a flight to an undisclosed city in the United States, the communique said. Rebu was accompanied by his wife and four children.

The government did not explain why the three men were freed, but the move was clearly meant to defuse resistance within the Leopards Battalion. At least four mutinous soldiers in the battalion were killed Monday in skirmishes with troops loyal to Avril. The rebels were demanding Rebu’s release.

Airport Closed

Independent Radio Haiti-Inter said rebel units of the Leopards Battalion withdrew from the Port-au-Prince airport, but the airport remained closed. Schools also were closed for a second day.

Avril assumed power six months ago in a coup led by noncommissioned officers who said they were disgusted by official corruption and human rights abuses.

On Monday night, presidential guardsmen in tanks battled Leopards commandos on a main thoroughfare between the airport and downtown Port-au-Prince.

Radio stations gave conflicting casualty reports, saying four to eight Leopards were killed and several wounded.

Nine members of an independent council appointed to organize and schedule presidential elections were to have been sworn in today, but the ceremony was postponed until Thursday because of the violence, officials said.