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| Caribbean-Latin America |
| Defying U.S., Honduras won't let Zelaya return as president |
| 2009-09-10 |
| Honduras' de facto government remains dead-set against the return of Manuel Zelaya as the country's president, defying the Obama administration and disregarding the U.S. sanctions imposed last week against the poor Central American nation. In fact, the government of interim President Roberto Micheletti appears to be digging in its heels against Zelaya by circulating accusations the ousted president illegally used public money to keep horses, buy watches and jewelry and repair his Harley-Davidson motorcycle. Foreign Minister Carlos Lopez Contreras said his government continues to reject calls that it grant amnesty to Zelaya and allow him to return as president, as called for under a proposal by Costa Rican President Oscar Arias. "Mr. Zelaya has orders for his arrest for crimes he has committed. That is the only possibility," Lopez Contreras told McClatchy in a telephone interview. Lopez Contreras said outsiders don't seem to understand that whether Honduras grants amnesty to Zelaya depends not on Micheletti but the country's Congress and Supreme Court. The foreign minister complained that Arias had rejected out of hand a Micheletti government counterproposal from Aug. 27 that would establish a unity government in Honduras that neither he nor Zelaya would head. It would also end Honduras' trade agreements with Venezuela that have been a point of pride for President Hugo Chavez. "The mediator acts like a negotiator for Zelaya instead of as a mediator," Lopez Contreras said. "We don't see him playing an objective role." |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #6 Any wager that Sarah might be the first American VIP to visit Tegucigalpa? During the Moose season of course. And just to deliver urgent Harley parts, of course. |
| Posted by: Skunky Glins 5*** 2009-09-10 23:54 |
| #5 Obama's feckless suckup to Chavez, Morales, and Castro is disgusting. Hillary should've taken the opportunity to do a Sistah Souljah moment by resigning. History will not be kind. As to the next GOP Prez - They should request a State Dept roster and fire everyone involved in this bullshit treatment of a democratically run state in Central America. |
| Posted by: Frank G 2009-09-10 20:06 |
| #4 Warms the cockles of my heart, it does, to see a little Central American country operating on the rule of law instead of the local big man's whims. Pity we are not siding with them. Honduras, *bleep* yeah! |
| Posted by: SteveS 2009-09-10 14:19 |
| #3 Any action that slaps down Bambi and Hilary meets with my approval. GO Honduras!!! |
| Posted by: WolfDog 2009-09-10 11:36 |
| #2 Their business, not mine. Getting rid of dictators and crooked politicians has always been something of a challenge in that part of the world. STAY OUT OF IT! They called the shots. Let them sort it out. |
| Posted by: Besoeker 2009-09-10 08:31 |
| #1 The headline "Defying U.S., Honduras won't let Zelaya return as president" makes it sounds as if Hinduras is nothing more than a recalcitrant child. It is quite clear. Zalaya was removed legally and because of his violation of the Honduran constitution. |
| Posted by: Spaing de Medici7383 2009-09-10 08:20 |