Aristide to return to Haiti on Thursday

A senior South African official says ousted former Haitian President Jean-Bertrand Aristide plans to return his homeland on Thursday.

"The president is due to take a flight out Thursday afternoon," the official told the international news agency, AFP.

The official said Mr. Aristide, who is to be escorted home by prominent humanitarian activist and actor Danny Glover, is expected to give a news briefing before his departure from Johannesburg.

Mr. Aristide’s return to Haiti comes as the impoverished French speaking CARICOM country is preparing for the second and final round of presidential elections on Sunday.

Haiti's first democratically elected President plans to defy US calls for him to delay his return until after Sunday's crucial Presidential run off.

The American's have argued that his presence could destabilise Haiti at a critical time and plunge the country into further violence.

In addition, the authorities in Haiti are also dealing with a deadly outbreak of cholera that has killed more than 4,000 people since last October.

The presidential election will be contested by former first lady Mirlande Manigat and pop singer Michel Martelly.