Honduras rejects OAS appeal to restore president
TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras — Honduras rebuffed a personal appeal from the Americas' top international diplomat Friday, refusing to restore President Manuel Zelaya and setting the stage for a dramatic showdown when the ousted leader returns to reclaim power this weekend.
Jose Miguel Insulza, who heads the Organization of American States, said after meeting with Honduras' Supreme Court, Attorney General and other political figures that he had found no willingness to return Zelaya to office ahead of a Saturday morning deadline. Zelaya was toppled in a military-backed coup on Sunday and flown out of the country.
"We wanted to ask that this situation be reversed," Insulza told a news conference in the Honduran capital, where he had arrived Friday on a personal mission to demand Zelaya's reinstatment. "Unfortunately, one must say that there appears to be no willingness to do this."
The OAS will meet on Saturday to decide whether to expel Honduras from the regional organization, he said, a move that could lead to further sanctions against one of the Americas' poorest countries. Suspension by the OAS could also encourage other organizations and countries to suspend aid and loans to Honduras.
Hours earlier, Honduras' Supreme Court, which had authorized Sunday's coup, said it wouldn't agree to reinstate the toppled leftist leader.
"Insulza asked Honduras to reinstate Zelaya, but the president of the court categorically answered that there is an arrest warrant for him," said court spokesman Danilo Izaguirre, referring to Supreme Court President Jorge Rivera. "Now the OAS has to decide what it will do."
Insulza said late Friday that Honduran officials had given him documents showing that charges are pending or have been brought against Zelaya, charges that purportedly justify the coup.
Insulza had conceded before traveling to Honduras that his mission was unlikely to succeed, saying: "It will be very hard to turn things around in a couple of days."
During the trip, the diplomat also met with the two main candidates in Honduras' Nov. 29 elections, as well with the leftist Popular Block, an umbrella group of farm, labor and student groups that largely supports Zelaya.
But he said he would not see Roberto Micheletti, whom Congress named president after Zelaya's ouster, in order to avoid legitimizing the government.
Micheletti's foreign minister, Enrique Ortez, said that Insulza "can negotiate all he wants, except for Zelaya's situation."
"That is not negotiable because he cannot return to Honduras, and if he does he will be arrested and tried," Ortez said.
Recent comments
When the OAS tried to intervene in Venezuela's internal affairs,...
OAS is chicken | July 4, 2009 at 2:54 p.m.
I do not understand the position the US administration (Obama) are...
US Position | July 4, 2009 at 12:20 p.m.
Respect Honduras' sovereingty if they want to get rid of their...
Provo Joe | July 4, 2009 at 9:15 a.m.
- Kirilenko, Millsap hit training room 12:15 a.m.
- Sports on the air 12:13 a.m.
- Questioning the alternative Jesus 12:13 a.m.
- 'Small Mormon world,' Part 3 12:12 a.m.
- Black Friday, anthesis of Christmas? 12:12 a.m.
- 'Holland' just got interesting 12:12 a.m.
- D&C gives 'spiritual assurances' 12:12 a.m.
- Youth at Hawaii Interfaith Council 12:11 a.m.
- No comeback for Utes this time 11:59 p.m.
- Utes could end up in San Diego 11:49 p.m.
- Cave to be sealed with body inside
- Predicting the unpredictable: BYU wins
- Vegas, Poinsettia bowls or bust
- Glover gives Utes last-second upset
- BYU football: 5 keys to victory
- Cougars turn back Wildcats'
- Man trapped in Nutty Putty cave dies
- Running game key to BYU offense
- Woods, wife unavailable for interview
- Idaho woman dies after fall
- Cougars beat Utes, 26-23
394 - Thunder rolls by Jazz
136 - Hall mouths off about hate of Utah
130 - Cave to be sealed with body inside
115 - Man trapped in Nutty Putty cave dies
115 - Editorial: Poor welcome for Palin
113 - Rivalry Week is highly profane
88 - Hall's legacy measured today
75 - Y. focused on 10-win season
73 - Letters: C02 causes warming
70
When I was a kid, I worshipped my grandpa. He was undoubtedly my hero....
It's BEER, not acid people! Some people love having it sprayed on themselves....
I believe Max Hall cemented his legacy tonight with his lack of...
I find it interesting that these comment come after a so-so performance in a...
If you really think BYU is more arrogant than USC or UCLA or so many other...
cougars baby!!!!!
I have one word for the BYU AND UTAH fans: TCU!!!! hahahaha
Two great examples of lack of class surfaced tonight: Pete Carroll, USC's...
Don't forget my favorite Max stat. 2 out of 3. Yeah, I bet that...
Thanks for the comment Max! I hope you keep on playing just like you have...
Neat article! (Yes, I'm a little biased :) It's been an exciting time to be...


