SANTIAGO, Jan. 11 (Xinhuanet) -- Chilean troops would remain part of the United Nations peacekeeping mission in Haiti until a professional Haitian police force is formed, Chilean Defense Minister Jaime Ravinet said on Wednesday.

    Ravinet told a news conference that Latin American countries had agreed "that we will accompany the new government for one to two years" after the Feb. 7 election.

    Chilean President Ricardo Lagos would address the parliament soon about his plan to keep troops in Haiti until next June, he added.

    Lagos reiterated on Tuesday that Chile would keep to its promise to the UN that it would contribute to political stability in Haiti, where 600 Chilean soldiers are currently deployed.

    Ravinet said that a major task for the force is to create "an efficient and honest" police force in Haiti.

    However, Senator Sergio Fernandez, head of the Chilean lower chamber, said that "now is the time to determine whether troops should stay on that island."

    Chile, Brazil and Argentina have been leading the multinational peacekeeping force alongside the United Nations in Haiti, which has been experiencing a climate of violence since the ex-president Bertrand Aristide stepped down in 2004 due to pressure from the United States.

    Aristide is currently in exile in South Africa, but many of his followers wish him to run for President in the election which has been shadowed by constant illegal activity including drug trafficking and kidnapping. Enditem