Honduras/Nicaragua

Zelaya demands to be reinstated within a week

Article published on the 2009-07-14 Latest update 2009-07-14 11:59 TU

Ousted Honduran President Manuel Zelaya speaks to the media at the Honduras embassy in Managua, Nicaragua on 13 July, 2009
(Photo: Reuters/Oswaldo Rivas)

Deposed Honduran President Manuel Zelaya has warned the interim government that replaced him to relinquish power within a week. He demanded that the interim government step down after further mediation talks later this week in order for him to be reinstated.

Zelaya said mediation efforts, which began in San Jose, Costa Rica, last week, would be “considered a failure” if his return to power was further delayed. The exiled leader was speaking from the Honduran embassy in the Nicaraguan capital, Managua.

"We are giving an ultimatum to the coup regime that by our next meeting at the latest, to be held this week in San Jose, Costa Rica, they comply with the mandates expressed by international organizations and the constitution of Honduras,” he said.

Negotiations between Honduras’s interim government and Zelaya are being brokered by Costa Rican President Oscar Arias. After two days of talks last week, interim Honduran leader Roberto Micheletti suggested that they could resume this Saturday.

Zelaya was sent into exile following a military-backed coup on 28 June. He attempted to return to Honduras earlier this month but authorities did not allow his plan to land in the country.

The US government has called for Zelaya’s reinstatement but on Monday Bolivian President Evo Morales accused the American military of being behind the coup.

"I have first-hand information that the empire, through the US Southern Command, made the coup d'etat in Honduras," Morales said during a visit to the Uruguayan capital Montevideo.

Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega condemned violence against Zelaya supporters in Honduras who are supporting his reinstatement. He said two had been killed.