Supporters of former Haitian President Jean-Bertrand Aristide claimed Tuesday that they had been threatened and persecuted by rebels and opponents of the exiled leader, said reports from the Dominican Republic.

Joseph Paul and Serge Manigat, heads of Aristide's Lavalas Family party in northern Haiti, said Tuesday that many pro-Aristide supporters had been forced to hide out while others had tried to flee to the Dominican Republic.

The two leaders living in Ouanaminthe, a city close to the Dominican Republic's northwestern province of Dajabon, denounced rebel forces for looting and setting ablaze houses and properties of the party leaders in the community.

They regretted that the only pharmacy in Ouanaminthe was burned down by the rebels during a violent protest days before Aristide's exile. Paul said food deposits and shops belonging to Aristide's supporters had also been looted.

"Haiti is currently sinking in chaos and rebels control all the public offices and money gathering institutions, like the customs," Manigat said.

Aristide was forced to step down and leave the country two daysago, but the interim authorities headed by former judge of the Supreme Court Boniface Alexander remain unable to control the situation.

Chaos, looting and violence have spilt from the capital of Port-au-Prince with a 2-million population, amid escapes of dangerous jailed criminals.

In the meantime, Guy Philippe, leader of the rebels that took arms and ousted Aristide, proclaimed himself the state's new military chief Tuesday.