Aristide's claims that he was forced from power in Haiti cause problems with his African host

BANGUI, Central African Republic — Claims by ousted Haitian leader Jean-Bertrand Aristide that U.S. officials forced him from power have upset his hosts in the Central African Republic, who will press the exiled president about his plans to move on into permanent exile.

Aristide, who resigned Sunday and arrived in the African country on a flight arranged by the U.S. government, said he was forced to leave by the American military — a claim dismissed by Secretary of State Colin Powell and others in the Bush administration.

His claims, made in an interview with The Associated Press and in phone calls to U.S. Congressmen and activists, created diplomatic worries for his new host country, where he is staying in the official residence of President Francois Bozize.

"The authorities have already called on Aristide to remain calm, to stop making accusations against America," Foreign Minister Charles Wenezoui told the AP. "We fear that this kind of declaration compromises relations between the Central African Republic and the United States."

He said, however, that the Central African Republic would investigate Aristide's charges, without elaborating.

Aristide and the president's ministers were expected to discuss plans for the ousted Haitian leader's final asylum plans in an as-yet-unknown third country later Tuesday, Communications Minister Parfait Mbaye said.

"Bozize will come and deal with this problem of settlement today and in the days to come," Mbaye said.

South Africa has said it is not opposed in principle to accepting Aristide, but it has not received a formal request. Like the Central African Republic, it was believed to be troubled by the political and diplomatic problems that could arise from offering asylum.

The government of the Central African Republic on Monday denied claims by Aristide, Haiti's first democratically elected president, that he was being held prisoner in the presidential palace.

Aristide is being guarded by French soldiers, France's defense minister said Tuesday.

"It is simply so his transitional stay in the Central African Republic unwinds in normal conditions," Defense Minister Michele Alliot-Marie said.

France does not intend to control his "comings and goings," Alliot-Marie said. France also sent troops to Haiti to help stabilize the country.

Bozize, who ousted an unpopular elected leader to take power in March 2002, has been courting international support and aid to stabilize his coup-prone country.