He became its first freely elected president in December 1990 before being ejected from office just one year later in a military coup . Aristide tells reporters gathered in Johannesburg that he 's ready to return to Johannesburg . He was forced from office in 2004 by a violent uprising and has been living in exile in Johannesburg . Said he and his wife were ready to leave Haiti as soon as Tuesday . A massive rescue effort is under way to find and treat survivors of today 's earthquake .
Aristide tells reporters gathered in Johannesburg that he 's ready to return to Johannesburg . He was forced from office in 2004 by a violent uprising and has been living in exile in Johannesburg . Said he and his wife were ready to leave Haiti as soon as Tuesday . A massive rescue effort is under way to find and treat survivors of today 's earthquake .