The United States flatly rejected Thursday a proposal for a United Nations-led investigation into the circumstances surrounding former Haitian president Jean Bertrand Aristide's resignation and departure from the country over the weekend.

"The U.S. view is that it's time to look forward; it's time to focus on what we can all do for the people of Haiti," State Department spokesman Richard Boucher said at a news briefing, responding to questions about a call by the South African government for a UN-led probe into Aristide's resignation.

"There was no kidnapping. There was no coup. There were no threats," Boucher said. "We did not advocate his stepping down. Wemade clear we were not going to intervene to prevent him from stepping down," he added.

"I think the U.S. role was clear, there is nothing to investigate. We certainly don't believe there is any need for any investigation. And that now that we are where we are, the focus needs to be on moving forward," Boucher said.

Aristide, who fled to the Central African Republic on Sunday after weeks of violence at home, had accused US forces of forcing him to step down and go into exiles.