WASHINGTON. July 6: Haitians picked up at sea by US coast guard ships will not be allowed into the United States even if they are considered political refugees, the special US adviser for Haiti said Tuesday, reports AFP

Officials announced mean while that four US warships would leave for Haiti to augment forces already offshore there and to prepare for possible evacuation of I S citizens still in Haiti

William Grav President Bill Clinton's special adviser on Haiti said the decision on refugees was aimed at stem ming the exodus of Haitian boar people and avoiding disasters at sea

Gray cited reports that as many as 150 people were feared killed over the weekend in the sinking of an overloaded boa' off the Hainan coastal town of Saint Mar'

"We urge them to stay at home we don't want to see people brown at sea. he said, adding that only Haitians who obtain political asylum status through the US embassy in Port au Prince would be al lowed into the United.Stales.

The boat people who are in need of protection will be given the opportunity to obtain it in safe hav?n camps1' fie added

The first of the camps will be established in Panama and agreements in principle have been reached with Dominica and Antigua Io set up other camps Gray said at a White House news conference

Grays announcement came as Haitians surged out of ihe country In ric ketv uriseawoc thy boats in hopes ot gaining political asylum n ihe '.ruled Slates

A total of 3/47 Halt',i:i-

were picked i^p by US vessels Monday alone the largest sin gle day total of asylum seekers from Hani, said Stanley Schrager. a spokesman for the US Embassy in -Port au Prince-

Since .lune 15 state department spokeswoman Christine Shelley said about 11.000 Haitians have been picked up a- sea by the roast guard with 6.000 of those just since Friday, threatening the US capacity to process the refugees

Panama agreed to accept up to 10.000 Haitians, but the de cision has unleashed a torrent of criticism against the gov eminent of President Guillermo Endrara who was accused ot kowtowing to Washington

Asked alxait the possibility ol an invasion i.i.iv said

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