PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti - Haiti's advisory council named an interim prime minister to pave the way for elections, while U.S. Marines said they would start helping disarm the general population in a potentially volatile move after weeks of bloodshed.

Militants demanding ousted President Jean-Bertrand Aristide's return stoned cars and set barricades ablaze Tuesday, blocking a main road in the capital and threatening renewed turmoil.

The new prime minister, Gerard Latortue, a former U.N. official and foreign minister, faces the difficult task of helping to restore peace in this troubled Caribbean nation following a monthlong insurgency that helped drive Aristide from power on Feb. 29. Rebels had seized control of half the country, sparking a frenzy of looting and violence. More than 400 people have died in the rebellion and reprisal killings.

U.S. Col. Charles Gurganus told reporters in Port-au-Prince that a joint disarmament program with Haitian police would begin today. He called on Haitians to tell peacekeepers who has weapons and to turn in any arms, but he gave few details of how the program will work.

"The disarmament will be both active and reactive, but I'm not going to say any more about that," he said. Rebel groups and Aristide loyalists have threatened violence if weapons aren't taken away from their enemies.

Since the U.S. and French-led peacekeepers arrived a week ago, there has been confusion over who is in charge of disarming groups. On Monday, Gurganus said disarming rebels was not part of the peacekeepers' mission, but he indicated that could change if police asked for help.

After five days of private meetings, the seven-member Council of Sages settled on Latortue, who also served as an international business consultant in Miami.

Latortue and interim President Boniface Alexandre will work toward organizing elections and building a new government for Haiti. Under Aristide, the prime minister's position was largely ceremonial. But Latortue's position will be that of a powerbroker and has the potential of carrying enough weight to smooth political divisions.

Council member Dr. Ariel Henry said Latortue was chosen because the council believed he was "an independent guy, a democrat." Councilor Anne-Marie Issa described him as someone "to pull everybody together."

Latortue, who served as foreign minister in 1988, was in Miami but accepted the position in a telephone call, council members said. He was expected to fly to Haiti as soon as today to replace Yvon Neptune.

Latortue couldn't be reached for comment Tuesday.

Neptune stayed in his post even after Aristide fled the country and Aristide opponents have demanded that he be replaced.

Also Tuesday, CIA Director George J. Tenet warned that in Haiti, "a humanitarian disaster or mass migration remains possible."