Haiti's President Jean-Bertrand Aristide resigned and lest country on Sunday, according to reportsreaching here from the Haitian capital of Port-Au-Prince.

Prime Minister Yvon Neptune told a press conference that Aristide resigned to "prevent bloodshed." At the same news conference, US Ambassador James Foley insisted the Washington had not asked Aristide to resign.

A jet carrying the ex-leader landed on the island of Antigua for refueling and was headed to South Africa, local radio stationsreported.