Home »

[fabrice]

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti -

A jailed Roman Catholic priest, whose supporters say is suffering from cancer and should be released for treatment in the United States, was taken from his jail cell Tuesday to a medical testing laboratory in the capital.

Authorities took the Rev. Gerard Jean-Juste to the laboratory, and U.N. peacekeeping troops stood guard outside the clinic.

Haitian police officials accompanying the priest declined comment.

Jean-Juste was jailed in July on suspicion of involvement in the abduction and slaying of a well-known local journalist, Jacques Roche in July 2005. Authorities have since expanded the investigation to include alleged weapons violations.

The priest, who was in Miami when Roche was kidnapped, has denied the allegations.

Mario Joseph, the lawyer for Jean-Juste, said he was told they were taking Jean-Juste to confirm a leukemia diagnosis. The lawyer said he doesn't believe there are any plans to immediately release him for medical treatment outside of Haiti.

"If he is sick they need to release him," Joseph said.

Jean-Juste was in the laboratory for 30 minutes before he was escorted out and driven away in a convoy that included U.N. peacekeepers and police. He was then taken to another lab for more tests before he was returned to his cell in an annex of the national penitentiary.

Jean-Juste has emerged as a prominent figure in ousted President Jean-Bertrand Aristide's Lavalas Family Party, which remains a potent political force in Haiti.

The priest's supporters have attempted to register him as a candidate in upcoming elections, but authorities barred him from registering because he was in prison.

Haiti's interim president on Tuesday confirmed that the country's repeatedly postponed elections will be on Feb. 7.

Boniface Alexandre issued a decree urging people to vote on that date. A runoff will be held on March 19 if needed.

Associated Press