'Baby Doc' waits to hear if he will stand trial for brutal rule

It comes after the former dictator known as "Baby Doc" was questioned in an hours-long, closed-door court session, defence lawyer Gervais Charles said.

Duvalier was removed from his upmarket hotel on Tuesday after the private meeting with top Haitian judicial officials as dozens of Haitian National Police officers, some in riot gear, were posted inside and around the building.

The decision to move towards a trial makes clear that whatever Duvalier's reasons for returning to Haiti on Sunday, the government is poised to take the opportunity to seek justice for his 15-year regime, widely regarded as brutal and corrupt.

Duvalier assumed power in 1971 at 19 following the death of his father, Francois "Papa Doc" Duvalier. The father and son presided over one of the most brutal chapters in Haitian history, a period when a secret police force known as the Tonton Macoute tortured and killed opponents.

The former leader has also been accused of pilfering millions from public funds and spiriting them out of the country to Swiss banks, though he denies stealing from Haiti.

Mr Charles said the case was now in the hands of a judge of instruction who would decide whether there was enough evidence to go to trial, a process that can take up to three months.

Several hundred Duvalier supporters gathered outside the court on Tuesday, burning tyres, chanting slogans and calling for the arrest of President Rene Preval, then cheering as Duvalier left for his hotel under police escort.

Earlier, some supporters had tried to block streets with overturned dustbins and rocks to keep police from taking Duvalier away.

There are no signs of widespread support for Duvalier, however. Demonstrations on his behalf have been relatively small by Haiti standards.

Haiti's system allows for pre-trial detention but Duvalier was allowed to remain free, though he cannot leave the country. His long-time companion Veronica Roy said on Monday that Duvalier expected his trip from France, where he has lived in exile, would last three days.

"If he has to leave (the country), he will ask and he will leave," Mr Charles said. "As of now, he doesn't even have a passport."

Duvalier's arrival on Sunday was a surprise for the long-impoverished country and comes as Haiti struggles to work through a dire political crisis following the problematic November 28 first-round presidential election, as well as a cholera epidemic and the devastating earthquake last year.

Amnesty International issued a statement praising what it called "the arrest" of Duvalier, but said it was just a start.

"If true justice is to be done in Haiti, the Haitian authorities need to open a criminal investigation into Duvalier's responsibility for the multitude of human rights abuses that were committed under his rule including torture, arbitrary detentions, rape, enforced disappearances and extrajudicial executions," the group said.

Bobby Duval, a former soccer star who was starved and tortured during the 17 months he was held without charge by Duvalier, was outraged that the former dictator was not arrested immediately.

"He is a murderer and a thief," said Mr Duval.