But the government is to blame, congressional investigators say

 WASHINGTON -- (AP) -- Pulling the plug after $97 million in U.S. police and
 judicial aid has left Haiti with an ineffective system of justice, but Haiti's
 government is largely to blame, congressional investigators said Tuesday.

 ``Haiti's judicial system is exceedingly weak and subject to manipulation,'' Rep.
 Benjamin Gilman, R-N.Y., chairman of the House International Relations
 Committee, said at a hearing.

 The United States spent $70 million over six years to help Haiti recruit, train and
 equip a police force and $27 million to beef up courts and prosecutors. But there
 is little evidence of success, investigators for Congress' General Accounting
 Office said.

 ``The key factor affecting the lack of success of U.S. assistance has been the
 Haitian government's lack of commitment to addressing the major problems of its
 police and judicial institutions,'' said Jess T. Ford, GAO associate director.

 MAY ELECTIONS

 U.S. concern for the future of democracy in Haiti has accelerated since critics
 accused the government of manipulating the May legislative election results.

 The Lavalas Party of former Haitian President Jean-Bertrand Aristide appeared to
 have clear election victories. But critics say manipulation of the vote count to
 avoid runoffs in some Senate races appears to be aimed at perpetuating the
 former Catholic priest's hold on power even further, possibly eliminating his
 opposition and creating a one-party state. Aristide is widely expected to be
 elected president again in Nov. 26 balloting.

 Nearly all U.S. aid to Haiti has been suspended. It has totaled more than $500
 million since a $1.5 billion U.S. invasion in September 1994 aimed at restoring
 democracy. Aid for police training and the justice system was cut off in July.

 The GAO, which conducts inquiries for congressional committees and members,
 is to release a detailed report on justice in Haiti and the effectiveness of U.S. aid
 next month.

 U.S. ASSISTANCE

 The preliminary report presented by Ford says U.S. assistance helped Haiti
 recruit and equip a 6,000-member police force, create a police academy and
 establish an inspector general for monitoring the police force.

 In addition, the U.S. Coast Guard provided $4.6 million to help organize and train
 the Haitian Coast Guard to deal with drug smuggling and illegal migration.

 Major weaknesses persist in both forces, the GAO said. The Haitian Coast Guard
 is poorly equipped and the police are largely ineffective, subject to corruption and
 politicization, it said.

 `SHORTCOMINGS'

 U.S. help for the judiciary created a case registration system, training for judges
 and prosecutors and a magistrate school.

 But the system continues to ``exhibit major shortcomings,'' the GAO said,
 including corruption, continued control by the executive branch, a large case
 backlog, an outdated legal code, and dilapidated facilities.