Honduras

Zelaya returns to Honduras ... briefly

Article published on the 2009-07-25 Latest update 2009-07-25 10:30 TU

Manuel Zelaya with supporters at the Las Manos border station
(Photo: Reuters)

Manuel Zelaya has stepped over the border into his homeland. But the deposed Honduran President returned to his exile in Nicaragua after walking only a few metres into his country's territory and meeting just a few wellwishers.

Riot police fired teargas at Zelaya supporters, some of whom had walked for hours to reach the frontier which the government had closed. Honduran television observed a blackout on the visit.

Zelaya, who had sworn to return after Costa Rica-brokered mediation failed, told a Honduran army official that he wanted to speak to army chief General Romeo Vasquez.

In Washington, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton described his action as "reckless", despite the US's declared opposition to the coup which forced the President out.

"President Zelaya's effort to reach the border is reckless," she said. "It does not contribute to the broader effort to restore democracy and constitutional order in the Honduras crisis,"

Honduras's de facto President Roberto Micheletti dubbed the visit  "irresponsible" and extended curfew in the border area from 18 to 30 hours.

But UN General Assembly President Miguel D'Escoto Brockmann of Nicaragua, described the move as "correct and heroic". He said Zelaya should have extra days in office to make up for the time he has spent in exile.

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, speaking at a meeting of the Mercusor trade bloc, said that the coup "cannot be tolerated and we cannot back down". A final declaration at the summit declared that Mercusor does not recognise the government now in power in Honduras.