Haiti's government says it is seeking the arrest of ousted President Jean-Bertrand Aristide on corruption charges.
Prime Minister Gerard Latortue announced Friday that formal instructions have been sent to the Justice Ministry for an arrest warrant to be issued as quickly as possible. Mr. Aristide is in exile in South Africa.
Mr. Latortue made the remarks as the government opened a commission to investigate the charges against Mr. Aristide, who fled Haiti during an armed uprising in February.
Mr. Aristide's Miami-based lawyer, Ira Kurzban, says the allegations are politically motivated and have no basis in fact.
Mr. Kurzban also tells VOA the charges are a public relations ploy to divert attention from a government he says was not elected and that is engaged in gross human rights violations.
