CLINTON ENDS U.S. MISSION IN HAITI

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Thousands of Haitians thronged the grounds of the National Palace in Port-au-Prince on a new national holiday -- Clinton Day -- to hear the U.S. president declare the American military mission there a success. "We celebrate the restoration of democracy to your country," Clinton told the crowd, whose front ranks consisted of children who giggled at several presidential attempts at Creole. Right on cue, as Clinton spoke, a white dove landed on the podium between him andHaitian President Jean-Bertrand Aristide. (Aristide's staff had released a whole flock of his trademark peace symbols in the yard.) As Clinton declared that the six-month U.S. mission had been accomplished "on schedule and with remarkable success," U.S. and U.N. flags were exchanged to mark the transition to a force of U.N. peacekeepers.