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JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - Former Haitian President Jean Bertrand Aristide, exiled in South Africa, said on Friday he was ready to return to help in the aftermath of an earthquake thought to have killed tens of thousands.
But he gave no indication of a specific plan to go back.

"As far as we are concerned, we are ready to leave today, tomorrow, at any time, to join the people of Haiti. To share their suffering to rebuild the country, moving from poverty with dignity," Aristide told reporters, tears streaming down his face.

Aristide said friends from around the world were willing to organise an aircraft to fly him and emergency supplies to Haiti.

After decades of dictatorship, Aristide, a former Roman Catholic priest, became the country's first elected president in 1990 but was ousted by the military a few months later.

He again took the presidency in 2000 but was forced into exile four years later amid growing violence.