Terra-EFE - Translation by HaitiAnalysis

Caracas- The former president of Haiti Jean-Bertrand Aristide visited today the head of Venezuela, Hugo Chávez, in Pretoria, taking advantage of his one-day visit to this African country, official sources indicated.

Aristide's visit to Chavez was released in Caracas through a note of the press department of the Miraflores palace, the seat of government.

The memo noted that the meeting was held "at the hotel that hosted the head of the Venezuelan State" in the South African capital.

The statement offered no details about the discussion and was limited to remembering that Aristide "was the first democratically elected president of his country" and is exiled in South Africa since May 31, 2004.

He also stressed that Chavez "was one of the leaders who raised their voices against the departure of Aristide in 2004, and called for the restoration of constitutional margin in the Caribbean nation."

Aristide was president until February 29, 2004 and left his country escorted by U.S. troops.

Chavez argued then that the Haitian leader was overthrown by Washington, maintaining Aristide's version of events.