Honduras - political crisis

Zelaya to be reinstated

Article published on the 2009-10-30 Latest update 2009-10-30 11:22 TU

President Manuel Zelaya poses supporters inside the Brazilian embassy in Tegucigalpa.
(Photo: Reuters)

The interim leader of Honduras has accepted a deal on Friday aimed at ending the political crisis in the country. Speaking from Islamabad, US Secretary of State Hilary Clinton hailed the deal as ‘historic.’

Roberto Micheletti agreed to reinstate President Manuel Zelaya, who was ousted from power in June in an army-backed coup. Critics of the ousted President accused him of attempting to change the country’s constitution to give him an extended presidency.

The interim government had previously been calling for the country’s top judges to approve the reinstatement decision, but the decision has been handed to Congress instead.

Protests supporting Zelaya’s reinstatement shook the capital city Tegucigalpa when he made a surprise return in September and holed up in the Brazilian embassy.

Negotiators for both Zelaya and Micheletti held discussions on Thursday, while outside security forces kept pro-Zelaya protesters at bay using tear-gas and batons.

Costa Rican President Oscar Arias has been a pivotal mediator in the crisis. He is responsible for writing the agreement, which allows for the formation of a national unity government and upholds the date for presidential elections on 29 November. The deal also calls for Zelaya to drop his controversial plans to change the constitution.

Hilary Clinton spoke to Micheletti shortly after he announced his acceptance of the deal. Speaking from Pakistan, she said she wanted to “congratulate the people of Honduras as well as President Leaya and Mr Micheletti for reaching a historic agreement.”

“I cannot think of another example of a country in Latin America that, having suffered a rupture of its democratic institutional order, overcame such a crisis through negotiation and dialogue.”