Former Haitian President Jean Claude Duvalier's return just adds to the Caribbean state's " ongoing burden," U.S. State Department spokesman Philip Crowley said on Tuesday.
"If I look at the list of challenges that Haiti faces today, having a former dictator return to Haiti just adds to Haiti's ongoing burden," Crowley told reporters at a regular press briefing at the department.
Duvalier, who governed Haiti for 15 years with an iron fist and was deposed in 1986 after popular uprisings, returned from France on Sunday but was detained by Haitian police on Tuesday.
He returned at a time when the country is still recovering from the consequences of the January 2010 earthquake and the cholera epidemic that started in October and has killed more than 4,000, and facing a political crisis resulting from the postponement of the presidential runoff.
Crowley described Duvalier's return as "one more complication" in an already challenging situation for Haiti, saying "we are focused on the many challenges that Haiti currently faces, you know, from public health to reconstruction to an ongoing election process. Haiti does not need at this point any more burdens."
"We were surprised at his return," he added. "But as to his status in the country and what happens, this is a matter for the government of Haiti and for the people of Haiti."