Military ordered to turn back Zelaya's jet

Published: Sunday, July 5, 2009 11:44 a.m. MDT
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But Zelaya's plans remained quite fluid early Sunday, and Fernandez said as she exited the diplomatic meeting in Washington that no other presidents would fly with him into Honduras. OAS Secretary-General Jose Miguel Insulza said it wasn't yet clear whether he would accompany Zelaya, either. Fernandez, Correa and Paraguayan President Fernando Lugo planned a joint news conference at Ecuador's embassy in Washington to explain their plans.

Catholic Cardinal Oscar Andres Rodriguez implored Zelaya not to confront the interim government, saying in a statement broadcast Saturday that "your return to the country could unleash a bloodbath."

The country's new government has vowed to arrest Zelaya for 18 alleged criminal acts including treason and failing to implement more than 80 laws approved by Congress since taking office in 2006.

Large crowds of Zelaya's critics have staged their own daily demonstrations to back Micheletti, the congressional president who was named by lawmakers to finish out the final six months of the Zelaya's term.

Most of the ousted leader's supporters come from the working and middle classes of this impoverished nation, while his opponents are based in the ranks of the well-to-do — although the increasingly leftist approach of the wealthy rancher had eroded his popular support.

The military ousted Zelaya with the backing of Honduras' political establishment, including the Supreme Court, Congress and Zelaya's own party. He was insisting on following through with a referendum on constitutional change that the Supreme Court ruled illegal.

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But by sending soldiers to shoot up the presidential residence and fly Zelaya into exile, the Micheletti government has brought itself universal condemnations from the United Nations and OAS. No nation has recognized the new government; U.S. President Barack Obama has united with conservative Alvaro Uribe of Colombia and leftist Hugo Chavez of Venezuela in criticism.

The OAS had given the Honduran government until Saturday to reinstate Zelaya, and sent two emergency missions to Honduras in hopes of heading off an escalation. But Micheletti pointedly rejected the group's demands.

"It is very clear that in the de facto government, there is no willingness to change its conduct," Jose Miguel Insulza said in urging Honduras' suspension.

Thirty-three nations voted for the suspension, with Honduras abstaining. It was the first time the OAS suspended a member nation over a military coup since 1990, when Haiti was punished for Gen. Raoul Cedras' putsch against President Jean-Bertrand Aristide.

Recent comments

Once again the US meddling in foreign politics was in the throes of...

America stay out of this | July 6, 2009 at 5:12 a.m.

The State Department really bungled this. They could have prevented...

Matt in VA | July 5, 2009 at 3:43 p.m.

Stay away "Mel" You are not wanted.

Catracho Americano | July 5, 2009 at 1:32 p.m.

Image
Esteban Felix, Associated Press

Supporters of ousted Honduras' President Manuel Zelaya burn a mock coffin of the country's interim President Roberto Micheletti near the international airport in Tegucigalpa, Saturday.

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