Haitian Foreign Minister Yvon Simeon greeted Alliot-Marie at the airport, and she was then taken by a French military helicopter to the police academy.

She was to meet Prime Minister Gerard Latortue and President Boniface Alexandre later in the day, before visiting French troops' northern Haiti headquarters.

Her visit marks the first by a French government minister since Aristide's February departure.

Aristide, who is now in Jamaica, has accused the United States and France of forcibly removing him from power, and he has instructed lawyers in both countries to begin lawsuits alleging kidnapping and illegal detention.

Both Paris and Washington have rejected the accusations, saying Aristide voluntarily stepped down to prevent a "bloodbath."

French troops make up nearly a third of the strength of a UN-approved multinational force deployed in Haiti to ensure security while an interim government under Latortue takes charge.

The rest is made up of 1,900 US soldiers, 450 Canadians and 400 Chileans.

WAR.WIRE