WASHINGTON, March 1 (Xinhuanet) -- The United States on Monday took pains to deny allegations that it was US forces that kidnapped Haitian President Jean-Bertrand Aristide and forced him to resign and leave his country.

    "I don't believe that's true that he is claiming that. I just don't know that that's the case," Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld told reporters at a Pentagon briefing, when asked about reports that Aristide himself said he was virtually kidnapped by US forces.

    "I'd be absolutely amazed if that were the case. There may be somebody saying that he's saying that, but I don't believe that," he added.

    "It's nonsense, and conspiracy theories like that do nothing tohelp the Haitian people realize the future that they aspire to, which is a better future, a more free future, and a more prosperous future," White House spokesman Scott McClellan responded at a separate briefing.

    "We took steps to protect Mr. Aristide, we took steps to protect his family as they departed Haiti. It was Mr. Aristide's decision to resign, and he spelled out his reasons why," he said.

    McClellan also disclosed that President George W. Bush called Spanish Prime Minister Maria Aznar on Monday to discuss the latter's recent trip to Colombia, as well as the situation in Haiti and in Venezuela.

    The denial by the administration came after Aristide, who fled to the Central African Republic on Sunday, reportedly told some US lawmakers by phone that he was actually kidnapped by US forces and left his country against his will. Enditem