Confusion reigns as Baby Doc taken into custody

>>> good evening, since the moment the earth stopped shaking in haiti just over a year ago now we've heard the warnings, the country was desperately poor and quite unstable before the quake. it remains very vulnerable now, almost a million people spending each night outdmoorz tents, the government's been weakened even their presidential palace was destroyed. when the former dictator there nicknamed baby doc flew in by surprise after a quarter century away in exile, many wondered, what was he up to? today he was taken away by police in another drama that amounts to big trouble in an already troubled nation to our south. kerry sanders is there tonight to start us off. kerry, good evening.

>> reporter: good evening, jean-claude duvalier has yet to explain why he's returned from exile. now that he's here, the haitian justice system has launched an investigation into allegations that he stole from this country's treasury. that investigation could take weeks if not months. baby doc has been told during the investigation he should not leave the country. heavily armed haitian police escorted duvalier from the suite of his luxury hotel . crowds gathered not to denounce the former dictator, but rather to show support. in the chaotic streets, haitian police, united nations troops and u.s. agents struggled to clear a path as baby doc was driven away in an armored car . at the port-au-prince courthouse, haiti 's minister of justice asked him to explain why he returned after 25 years in exile and reportedly to elaborate on decades old allegations of human rights abuses . outside, supporters demanded he be set free to do as he wants. some saying they want him to resume power. in 1986 , the u.s. helped engineer baby doc 's fall from power. the obama administration made it clear it is not happy to see him back.

>> this is one more complication in an already challenging situation.

>> reporter: today's surprisingly warm welcome for a brutal dictator can be explained in part by a demographic shift in haiti . 51% of this nation's population is under 21 years old, not even born when baby doc fled. amnesty international says duvalier and his group acted brutally and with impunity.

>> women being raped, arson attacks, murders committed by not only the haitian armed force s but others as well.

>> there was a strong desire to prosecute duvalier if he returned to haiti , and now they've been given a golden opportunity. we'll see how the government reacts.

>> reporter: a former member of the baby doc administration remembers it differently.

>> duvalier was best.

>> is the best?

>> is the best.

>> reporter: tonight baby doc has returned to his hotel and with upwards of about a million people still living in tents here after the devastating earthquake a year ago, aide organizations say this is a distraction they did not need. brian?

>> kerry sanders as the drama goes on in haiti , thanks.