The United States on Monday criticized former Haitian President Jean-Bertrand Aristide for insisting he was still president of the Caribbean country and warned him not to stir up division.

"Mr. Aristide has resigned his office and has left the country.And now the Haitian people are involved with grasping democracy and moving forward on an interim government," White House spokesman Trent Duffy said.

"Any comments that would stir up more division are not helpful,as the Haitian people move towards a greater democracy," the spokesman said.

Aristide claimed that he was still Haiti's president at a pressconference in the Central African Republic where he is in exile.

"I am the elected president and I remain the elected president," Aristide said.

Aristide, who was forced to resign and leave Haiti on February 29, has claimed that he was "abducted" by the US forces and left his country against his will. The United States has dismissed the claim as "sheer nonsense."