Haitian troops stormed the Presidential Palace early this morning, smothering a coup attempt in its infancy and seizing a Duvalier-era official just after he tried to declare martial law.

- as Haitian troops continue to beat and harass the followers of the deposed President, Jean-Bertrand Aristide.

Haitian troops and city police here, who have been accused of beating and harassing supporters of the exiled President, the Rev. Jean-Bertrand Aristide, cooperated with the forces.

But the Haitian troops do not train with them and they were last seen fired this month at the inauguration of the military-backed "provisional president," Emil Jonassaint.

Pierrot's most pressing duty as the new president was to check the incursions of the Dominicans, who were harassing the Haitian troops along the borders.

The marines here had not expected much initial opposition from the 700 to 800 Haitian troops, police officers and militiamen in Cap Haitien, a port city of 65,000.

Haitian troops defeated rebels in a battle at Les Cayes.

LeClerc was initially successful, capturing and deporting Toussaint, but Toussaint's officers led the opposition by Haitian indigenous troops; they fought on for two more years.

Colonel Francois received training from United States Army along with other Haitian troops at Fort Benning, Ga., and studied business in Haiti.

As the taunts intensified, he said, one of the Haitian troops raised his Uzi machine gun in the direction of the Marine lieutenant who commanded the 10-man patrol.