Military cordon around Zelaya haven

Honduran soldiers near the Brazilian embassy are imposing strict security

Ousted President Manuel Zelaya has for more than a week been holed up in the Brazilian embassy in the capital Tegucigalpa. Bruno Garcez of BBC Brasil reports on the Honduran military blockade outside the mission.
President Zelaya was ousted from his position last June, for proposing a referendum which could have led to a change to the country's constitution and allowed him to run for a possible second-term.
He returned to Honduras covertly on 21 September and sought refuge in the Brazilian embassy along with an entourage of over 50 people.
The interim government has asked Brazil to give Mr Zelaya asylum or hand him over and, because of tensions with Mr Zelaya's supporters, have instructed the military to routinely block people carrying in anything they consider might be used in a threatening manner against the authorities.
Food only goes in once it has passed by sniffer dogs and has then been hand-searched by soldiers.
Most diplomatic staff at the Brazilian embassy - as well as family members of Mr Zelaya - face these harsh routines on a daily basis.
A few days ago, birthday cakes were being delivered to the Honduran first-lady and were only allowed into the embassy after having been cut into several slices and given "approval" by the soldiers' and their sniffer dogs.
On another occasion, without any explanation, the soldiers prevented a blender from entering the compound, assuming perhaps that it would be used for something more sinister than mixing up your average milkshake.
No mattresses
The military surrounding the embassy has also prevented mattresses and sleeping bags passing through the cordon, as well as quantities of alcohol from entering the building.
Mr Zelaya's daughter, 24-year-old Hortensia, was with her parents when the ousted leader turned the embassy into his improvised headquarters, setting the scene for what has now turned into a plot that would not be out of place in a Latin American soap-opera.

Hortensia Zelaya has spoke of harsh security being imposed at the embassy

Since she chose to leave the premises, in order to act as her father's go-between with the outside world, she has not always been allowed back in.
Once, she passed through the first military checkpoint - there are currently three in place - but could not proceed any further, so was forced to merely hand over the takeaways of fried chicken, rice and soft drinks she had brought for her family and friends.
"The situation inside [the embassy] is a bit harsh. People have no place to sleep, they are sleeping on the floor.
"We have been trying to bring medicine and food, but it costs a great deal... [the soldiers] are even making the dogs sniff it," said Mr Zelaya's daughter.
"And then the soldiers try to get their fingers in, to see if there is anything in there. It is terrible, but we do what we can."
The government has now re-connected electricity and water supplies to the embassy, but the building is still without telephone lines.
After initially having used tear gas against the Brazilian compound, in the first few days of the ousted president's stay, the interim government has since backtracked and lightened its tone.
It now says that it will make no attempt to enter the embassy, even after a self-imposed deadline set for next Tuesday expires.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8288114.stm

      Honduras thaw paves way for talks

Zelaya is holed up inside the Brazilian embassy with dozens of supporters

A thaw in the Honduras political crisis has paved the way for talks between representatives of the ousted president and the man behind his downfall.

Aides to Manuel Zelaya and interim President Roberto Micheletti will reportedly meet next week.
The talks would precede a visit by the Organisation of American States aimed at brokering a deal, the OAS says.
An emergency decree limiting civil liberties would be lifted within days, Mr Micheletti was quoted as saying.
Hours after he met a visiting US Congressional delegation, he said a dialogue was "beginning" between his supporters and those of Mr Zelaya.
The ousted president was forced from office on 28 June by a military-backed coup and has been holed up in Tegucigalpa's Brazilian Embassy since sneaking back into Honduras last month.
It is hoped the political crisis will be resolved before presidential elections, due to be held at the end of November.
Talking concessions
The thaw came after an OAS preparatory mission was allowed into the country on Friday.
The OAS has been pushing for a negotiated resolution that restores Mr Zelaya to power, and its secretary general, Jose Miguel Insulza, is due in the country on Wednesday to meet both sides.
The pressure for a negotiated settlement to the crisis is coming not only from the international community, but also from the Honduran Congress and local business leaders, says the BBC's Bruno Garcez in Tegucigalpa.

AT THE SCENE Bruno Garcez, BBC Brasil, Tegucigalpa The Honduran military have set up a blockade in front of the Brazilian embassy that subjects Mr Zelaya's family to strict inspections. Food only goes in once it has been checked by sniffer dogs and hand-searched by soldiers. A few days ago, birthday cakes destined for the Honduran first lady were only allowed in after having been cut into several slices and given 'approval' by the soldiers' German shepherds. Last Wednesday, the soldiers prevented a blender from entering the compound, assuming perhaps that it would be used for making something more than the average milkshake.

While for days it seemed that neither of the two sides was willing to blink first, our correspondent adds, now both sides are openly talking about making concessions.
Although no agreement has yet been reached, Mr Micheletti said recent discussions with the OAS head showed "peace is coming back" to Honduras.
This was in stark contrast to the tone just a week ago, when Mr Micheletti refused to admit an OAS delegation into Honduras, and suspended civil liberties in the country after Mr Zelaya made a call for protests.
The interim government then gave Brazil 10 days to either grant Mr Zelaya asylum or hand him over.
Mr Zelaya was forced from office at gunpoint after announcing plans to hold a non-binding public consultation on whether people supported moves to change the constitution.
His opponents said the move was unconstitutional and was aimed at removing the current one-term limit on serving as president, so paving the way for Mr Zelaya's possible re-election.
He has denied this, saying that in order to regain his post, he is willing to have fewer powers and face prosecution over the accusations levelled against him.