ARTICLE - LAWYER - ARISTIDE IN HAITI - FRIDAY

LAWYER: ARISTIDE RETURNS TO HAITI ON FRIDAY
(AP)

PORT-AU-PRINCE — The lawyer for Jean-Bertrand Aristide has finally set a date for the exiled former leader's return to Haiti.

Ira Kurzban says Aristide will be back in Haiti by noon on Friday. The one-sentence statement was released Thursday and gave no further details.

Aristide has been in exile in South Africa since he was ousted in a rebellion in 2004. The U.S. had urged him to delay his return, fearing it could disrupt Sunday's presidential election in the fragile nation.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP's earlier story is below.

PORT-AU-PRINCE — A White House spokesman says President Obama has personally weighed in on the apparently imminent return from exile of former Haitian President Jean-Bertrand Aristide.

White House National Security Council spokesman Tommy Vietor says Obama recently called the president of South Africa, where Aristide has been in exile since he was ousted in a rebellion in 2004.

Vietor told The Associated Press on Thursday that Obama told South African President Jacob Zuma about "deep concerns" the U.S. has over Aristide's plans to return just before Haiti's presidential election Sunday. He says the U.S. believes Aristide's return could be destabilizing to the fragile country.

A Zuma spokesman said he was not aware of the call.