Reports by phone from the front of the Karibe Hotel are difficult to hear as Duvalier is being led to the back door, along with his wife.
Screams of "we will burn the country" and "arrest Preval" are being translated for us.
This major distraction and brinkmanship can only cause more heartbreak and anguish for Haiti if it incites more violence, and if it takes media attention away from a disastrous election and the plight of 1.5 million homeless.
At approximately 14:30 EST, a crowd of 500 gathered outside of the prosecutor's office where Duvalier is in custody.
Eyewitness report:
We are now in front of the prosecutor's office. People are demonstrating for Duvalier. One said even Duvalier is guilty but the fact that he spent 25 years out of the country means he already paid. One another said that even he's guilty people in power or have been in power since he left are more guilty. They say they must arrest preval and released baby doc. I have seen people selling pictures of Papa Doc, Baby doc, and Aristide. Of course each one of them in a wooden frame. If Preval does not go what ever it takes he will have to leave. At Hotel Karibe they had pictures of Duvalier and they were singing for Duvalier. More people are coming to see what's going on. Singing, dancing asking for Duvalier
There are rumors that Duvalier may be released after being questioned, but that could go on for days or minutes. No one knows even though authorities indicated this morning that an arrest warrant was served.
What is certain is that Human Rights Watch has called for Duvalier's arrest, citing the fact that the Duvaliers ordered the deaths of as many as 100,000 during their familial reign.
Most Haitians are of a younger generation that does not remember life under the Duvaliers.
17:30 EST:
Duvaler is free, but has to remain at the disposition of justices the lawyers said as the former dictator left the prosecutor's office in Port-au-Prince with his wife, Veronique Roy.
More as the story develops.
All photos by Andre Paultre who is on the scene as this develops
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