HONDURAS
OAS Officials Expelled; Brazil Gets Ultimatum
The interim government of Honduras expelled personnel from the Organization of American States looking to set up a mediation effort and gave Brazil a 10-day ultimatum to decide what to do with ousted president Manuel Zelaya, who took refuge at the Brazilian Embassy. OAS special adviser John Biehl said that he and four other members of an advance team -- including two Americans, a Canadian and a Colombian -- were stopped by authorities after landing in Tegucigalpa, the capital. Biehl, who is Chilean, said he was told he could stay, but the others were flown out of the country.
Meanwhile, a spokesman for Roberto Micheletti, the interim president, warned Brazilian authorities to "immediately take measures to ensure that Mr. Zelaya stops using the protection offered by the diplomatic mission to instigate violence in Honduras." He did not say what he would do after 10 days.
Late Sunday, the interim leaders suspended key civil liberties in response to Zelaya's "calls for insurrection," empowering police and soldiers to break up "unauthorized" public meetings, arrest people without warrants and restrict the news media. The announcement came hours after Zelaya called on supporters to stage mass marches Monday marking the three-month anniversary of the June 28 coup that ousted him.
-- Associated Press
the interim government said Sunday that it would not automatically accept ambassadors back from some nations that withdrew their envoys.
Dictator spurns OAS, vows to close Brazil embassy
By Patrick Markey and Gustavo Palencia
TEGUCIGALPA (Reuters) - The de facto government of Honduras denied entry on Sunday to an Organization of American States delegation and threatened to close Brazil's embassy, where ousted President Manuel Zelaya has taken refuge.
The group of OAS officials had hoped to help broker a solution to Honduras' political crisis but was turned back at Tegucigalpa's international airport, a move likely to further isolate the government headed by Roberto Micheletti.
Hours earlier, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said he would ignore a 10-day deadline set by Micheletti to decide what to do with Zelaya, who is holed up with his family and some supporters in Brazil's embassy in the capital.
"Brazil will not comply with an ultimatum from a government of coup mongers," Lula told reporters at a summit of African and South American leaders in Venezuela.
Lula also demanded an apology from Micheletti, who issued a harsh statement late on Saturday warning that his government would be forced to take action if Brazil does not define Zelaya's status soon.
Zelaya was overthrown in a military coup on June 28, but on Monday he returned from exile, sparking a tense standoff with the de facto civilian government that has promised to arrest him on charges of treason.
Brazil has said Zelaya can stay as long as necessary, but Micheletti told the South American heavyweight to either grant the deposed leftist political asylum or hand him over to Honduran authorities to be prosecuted.
"We urge the Brazilian government to define the status of Mr. Zelaya in a period of no more than 10 days," the government said in a statement. "If not, we will be obliged to take additional measures."
Carlos Lopez, the de facto government's foreign minister, said Brazil would lose its right to have an embassy in Honduras if it ignores the deadline. But he stressed that the government would respect the sovereignty of the compound and has no plans to storm the building to arrest Zelaya.
"There has been no discussion of raiding Brazil's compound," Lopez said at a news conference in Tegucigalpa where he faulted Brazil for escalating the crisis by agreeing to house Zelaya in its embassy.
"The Lula government is to blame," he added.
Since Monday, hundreds of soldiers and riot police have surrounded the embassy where protesters have mounted almost daily marches to demand Zelaya be reinstated.
"If they enter by force, they will be committing an act that contravenes all international norms," Lula said of the security forces outside the building.
The United Nations Security Council on Friday condemned harassment of the Brazilian embassy. Brazilian officials say food and supplies have only occasionally been allowed in and troops have blasted the building with high-frequency sounds
TEGUCIGALPA (Reuters) - Honduras' de facto government on Monday resisted pressure from opponents and the international community over ousted President Manuel Zelaya, who for a week has been holed up inside the Brazilian embassy seeking a return to power.
Zelaya was overthrown in a military coup on June 28, but he secretly returned from exile last Monday, sparking a tense standoff with the de facto civilian government that has promised to arrest him on charges of treason.
Hundreds of soldiers and riot police have surrounded the embassy all week, while Zelaya urges his followers to take to the streets to demand he be restored to office in the coffee and textile producing country.
Honduras on Sunday suspended some civilian rights, gave Brazil an ultimatum to resolve Zelaya's status or close its embassy and denied entry to an Organization of American States delegation seeking to broker a solution to the crisis.
OAS representatives will hold an extraordinary session on Monday to discuss the Honduran face-off, the worst crisis in Central America for years and a test for the administration of U.S. President Barack Obama that is promising engagement with Latin America.
Honduras' tough stance sent a clear message it would not allow the leftist Zelaya's return to power. But the measures and threat to the embassy will likely bring further international condemnation for Honduras, which has already faced cuts in some overseas aid and funding.
"It would be a terrible mistake on the part of the de facto government, they would be condemning themselves more than they already have," Zelaya told reporters from the embassy.
Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said he would ignore a 10-day deadline set by de facto leader Roberto Micheletti to decide on the fate of Zelaya, who is in refuge with family and supporters in the embassy.
Zelaya, a logging magnate who is rarely without his trademark cowboy hat, urged his followers to descend on the capital for the "final offensive" on Monday.
Micheletti over the weekend issued a decree allowing a ban on public protests and suspension of freedom of speech and the media because of "disturbances of the peace."
(Editing by Vicki Allen)
TEGUCIGALPA (Reuters) - The de facto government of Honduras denied entry on Sunday to an Organization of American States delegation and threatened to close Brazil's embassy, where ousted President Manuel Zelaya has taken refuge.
The group of OAS officials had hoped to help broker a solution to Honduras' political crisis but was turned back at Tegucigalpa's international airport, a move likely to further isolate the government headed by Roberto Micheletti.
Hours earlier, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said he would ignore a 10-day deadline set by Micheletti to decide what to do with Zelaya, who is holed up with his family and some supporters in Brazil's embassy in the capital.
"Brazil will not comply with an ultimatum from a government of coup mongers," Lula told reporters at a summit of African and South American leaders in Venezuela.
Lula also demanded an apology from Micheletti, who issued a harsh statement late on Saturday warning that his government would be forced to take action if Brazil does not define Zelaya's status soon.
Zelaya was overthrown in a military coup on June 28, but on Monday he returned from exile, sparking a tense standoff with the de facto civilian government that has promised to arrest him on charges of treason.
Brazil has said Zelaya can stay as long as necessary, but Micheletti told the South American heavyweight to either grant the deposed leftist political asylum or hand him over to Honduran authorities to be prosecuted.
"We urge the Brazilian government to define the status of Mr. Zelaya in a period of no more than 10 days," the government said in a statement. "If not, we will be obliged to take additional measures."
Carlos Lopez, the de facto government's foreign minister, said Brazil would lose its right to have an embassy in Honduras if it ignores the deadline. But he stressed that the government would respect the sovereignty of the compound and has no plans to storm the building to arrest Zelaya.
"There has been no discussion of raiding Brazil's compound," Lopez said at a news conference in Tegucigalpa where he faulted Brazil for escalating the crisis by agreeing to house Zelaya in its embassy.
"The Lula government is to blame," he added.
Since Monday, hundreds of soldiers and riot police have surrounded the embassy where protesters have mounted almost daily marches to demand Zelaya be reinstated.
"If they enter by force, they will be committing an act that contravenes all international norms," Lula said of the security forces outside the building.
The United Nations Security Council on Friday condemned harassment of the Brazilian embassy. Brazilian officials say food and supplies have only occasionally been allowed in and troops have blasted the building with high-frequency sounds
Dictator resists pressure over ousted leader Zelaya
By Patrick MarkeyTEGUCIGALPA (Reuters) - Honduras' de facto government on Monday resisted pressure from opponents and the international community over ousted President Manuel Zelaya, who for a week has been holed up inside the Brazilian embassy seeking a return to power.
Zelaya was overthrown in a military coup on June 28, but he secretly returned from exile last Monday, sparking a tense standoff with the de facto civilian government that has promised to arrest him on charges of treason.
Hundreds of soldiers and riot police have surrounded the embassy all week, while Zelaya urges his followers to take to the streets to demand he be restored to office in the coffee and textile producing country.
Honduras on Sunday suspended some civilian rights, gave Brazil an ultimatum to resolve Zelaya's status or close its embassy and denied entry to an Organization of American States delegation seeking to broker a solution to the crisis.
OAS representatives will hold an extraordinary session on Monday to discuss the Honduran face-off, the worst crisis in Central America for years and a test for the administration of U.S. President Barack Obama that is promising engagement with Latin America.
Honduras' tough stance sent a clear message it would not allow the leftist Zelaya's return to power. But the measures and threat to the embassy will likely bring further international condemnation for Honduras, which has already faced cuts in some overseas aid and funding.
"It would be a terrible mistake on the part of the de facto government, they would be condemning themselves more than they already have," Zelaya told reporters from the embassy.
Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said he would ignore a 10-day deadline set by de facto leader Roberto Micheletti to decide on the fate of Zelaya, who is in refuge with family and supporters in the embassy.
Zelaya, a logging magnate who is rarely without his trademark cowboy hat, urged his followers to descend on the capital for the "final offensive" on Monday.
Micheletti over the weekend issued a decree allowing a ban on public protests and suspension of freedom of speech and the media because of "disturbances of the peace."
(Editing by Vicki Allen)
Sept. 28 (Bloomberg) -- Honduras banned protests for 45 days and suspended other civil rights as talks to end a three- monthlong political crisis stalled and supporters of ousted President Manuel Zelaya planned rallies for today.
Any media that “incited” violence will be shut down, Cesar Caceres, government spokesman, said in a telephone interview late yesterday in the capital, Tegucigalpa. The military and police will be allowed to arrest anyone posing a threat, he said.
Immigration authorities at Toncontin airport in Tegucigalpa yesterday barred a four-member delegation from the Organization of American States from entering the country to organize talks aimed at ending the crisis. The acting government said it would first seek “internal” solutions to the stalemate.
Zelaya said he wants to hold talks with acting president Roberto Micheletti at the Brazilian embassy in Tegucigalpa, where the ousted leader has been staying since he entered Honduras last week, three months after he was exiled by soldiers at gunpoint. Micheletti’s government says Zelaya violated the constitution and won’t be allowed to return to power.
“They won’t let these people enter to start a dialogue,” Zelaya said in a phone interview from the embassy yesterday.
Micheletti and Zelaya met separately with the nation’s four leading presidential candidates last week, opening the way for talks. The two have yet to meet even though Zelaya has said he will recognize Nov. 29 elections, a condition set by Micheletti to begin talks.
Internal Solution
An “internal” solution to the stalemate will take precedence to OAS-hosted talks, said Foreign Minister Carlos Lopez Contreras yesterday. The four OAS officials “came here by surprise” and weren’t authorized to enter the country, he said.
Three of the four later left Honduras for Costa Rica, according to an OAS official who asked not to be identified because he wasn’t authorized to speak on the matter. A fourth remained in the country, he said.
Michael Stevens, spokesman for the U.S. embassy in Tegucigalpa declined to comment.
The OAS mission intended to help restart talks that stalled after Micheletti refused to restore Zelaya, one of 11 points in a proposal by Costa Rican President Oscar Arias, who is trying to mediate an end to the crisis. The government allowed one OAS official to stay because he had participated in the Costa Rica- mediated talks, Lopez Contreras said.
Honduras’s acting government also asked that Venezuela, Mexico, Argentina and Spain recognize it or they will have to close their missions in the Central American nation.
Brazil Ultimatum
Brazil doesn’t recognize a 10-day ultimatum from the acting government of Honduras to declare whether Zelaya has been granted asylum, President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said in Venezuela yesterday. Honduras will act to remove Brazil’s diplomatic status after 10 days, Contreras said, though it will refrain from attacking the embassy to forcefully remove Zelaya.
Lula said it would be a violation of international law if the de facto government enters the embassy by force and called on the acting government to restore Zelaya as president.
Speaking by phone from the embassy, Zelaya said he and about 50 supporters are rationing food brought in by human rights observers. He said authorities have used toxic gases, sonic sound blasts and electromagnetic radiation to try to drive him out of the embassy.
“We all have headaches from the radiation,” he said in a raspy voice. “It’s making us nauseous.”
Protest March
Zelaya called on supporters to march on the Brazilian embassy today after police and soldiers prevented thousands of his backers from reaching the building yesterday. The acting government announced a curfew 9 p.m. to 5 a.m.
Police are investigating the death yesterday of a Zelaya supporter who had been hospitalized for an asthma attack allegedly caused by tear gas at protests earlier this week, according to police spokesman Orlin Cerrato.
Supporters of Zelaya held a funeral for the woman, Wendy Avila, at labor union offices that have been the headquarters for protest organizers, according to protest leader Anarella Velez. Velez will file charges against police over the death, she said.
“The resistance hasn’t stopped for one minute,” Zelaya said. “We’ll keep up until we revert this coup.”
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