HAITI. . . ARISTIDE'S PEOPLE TAKE CHARGE

Hundreds of U.S. troops occupied Haiti's National Palace this afternoon, helping supporters of returning President Jean-Bertrand Aristide free the government of junta influence down to the last paper-shuffler. Now that Lt. Gen. Raoul Cedras has stepped down, Aristide's Cabinet ministers fired all employees hired under the junta's civilian figurehead government and took over ministry offices. Aristide, meanwhile, plans to return to Haiti in grand style Saturday, with three planes stuffed with so many guests that the State Department is complaining. In addition to Secretary of State Warren Christopher, the party includes the Rev. Jesse Jackson, TransAfrica director Randall Robinson, the Congressional Black Caucus and a snowballing number of Haitian diaspora members.