Honduras - Politics

US seeks to resolve Zelaya crisis

Article published on the 2009-10-29 Latest update 2009-10-29 15:39 TU

U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs Thomas Shannon (L) speaks with Honduras' de facto leader Roberto Micheletti during a meeting at the Presidential House in Tegucigalpa, 28 October 2009
(Photo: Reuters)

A US delegation opened fresh diplomatic talks on Wednesday in a bid to resolve the four-month-old political crisis over the ousting of President Manuel Zelaya.

The delegation, which is led by the US Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs, Thomas Shannon, first met with Zelaya at the Brazilian embassy, where he has been holed up since mid-September.

The US envoy then met Roberto Micheletti, the head of the de facto government. Micheletti seized power in a military-backed coup on 28 June and has refused any deals that would involve Zelaya’s reinstatement.

Zelaya told AFP that US officials gave assurances that they regarded him as “president of the Hondurans” and would not recognise the outcome of the presidential elections set for the 28 November.

"I continue being the president recognized by the nations of the world. I represent a way out, a way towards a political consensus and a peaceful solution.”

Micheletti’s negotiator, Vilma Morales, has invited Zelaya’s team to resume negotiations on Thursday to establish whether or not it should be congress or the Supreme Court that decides on Zelaya’s reinstatement.

Zelaya has rejected the possibility of the Supreme Court becoming involved, as it accused him of 18 crimes ahead of the coup. Zelaya's team said they would not return to negotiations unless an agreement on his reinstatement is signed beforehand.

It is feared that if both sides don’t strike a deal, Zelaya’s supporters may boycott the polarized nation’s November elections.

On Wednesday, over 1,000 Zelaya supporters demonstrated outside the Honduran Congress, demanding his reinstatement and Micheletti's resignation.