Obama has 'deep concerns' over Aristide return

Haiti -- 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.