Aristide v. United States of America

You've gotta love our justice system. Is there anything our courts can't do?

Haitian President Jean-Bertrand Aristide plans to sue the United States and France for allegedly kidnapping him, one of his lawyers said Monday.

Aristide, who arrived in the Central African Republic a week ago, has repeatedly accused the United States of forcing him into exile after a rebellion plunged Haiti into chaos.

Lawyer Gilbert Collard said he and an American colleague would file identical suits in France and the United States in the next few days once they receive final authorization from Aristide.

"We will file suit against the French ambassador (in Port-au-Prince) and against the (U.S.) military authorities that carried out the abduction of the president," he told Reuters.

"The suits will target the Bush administration and the French government," he said. "If we get support from some African states, we will also appeal to the relevant commission of the United Nations."

Asked whether the lawsuits could succeed, Collard replied: "You never know. In a world where you can abduct a democratically elected president, you have to hope a democratic judge would find a way to do this."

From "Aristide Aims to Sue US, France for Kidnap" (Reuters).