Fresh protests break out in Honduras

[Judi Lynn]

Fresh protests break out in Honduras
2009-07-23 11:04:24

TEGUCIGALPA, July 22 (Xinhua) -- Fresh protests broke out Wednesday in Tegucigalpa, the capital of Honduras, as the deposed Honduran president Manuel Zelaya and the de facto government started a new round of mediation talk in Costa Rica.

A clash was reported between high school students and the police in the Kennedy district, the most populated area of the capital city.

Witnesses said a group of riot police tried to expel the students who were staging a peaceful pro-Zelaya demonstration.

Also on Wednesday, Zelaya's supporters rallied in different places of Tegucigalpa for a massive protest.

Some 200 women protestors gathered in front of the U.S. embassy, demanding "less talking and more action at the international field against this coup."

People also marked an artistic and cultural day at the Autonomous National University of Tegucigalpa to show support to the deposed leader.

Meanwhile, an anti-Zelaya organization Democratic Civic Union (UCD) held a protest titled "For the Patriotism and Courage" to support post-coup interim president and ex-Congress leader Roberto Micheletti.

According to the UCD, the protest aims to "support the democracy" and reject Zelaya's return to the Central American country, where the president was dethroned in a coup d'etat on June 28.

Tegucigalpa's mayor, Ricardo Alvarez, said that: "Zelaya can not come to country to retake the power, because he has violated the laws."

Zelaya was ousted and forced into exile in a coup on June 28, after he angered the army, the legislative and the judiciary by insisting on a constitution amendment that would allow him to seek re-election.

The deposed Honduran president reiterated in various occasions that he would return to his country despite all cost, while the interim government said his reinstatement was out of the question.

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-07/23/content_11758193.htm

[Judi Lynn]

1. Thousands march in Honduras as impasse hardens

Thousands march in Honduras as impasse hardens
Irish Sun
Thursday 23rd July, 2009
(IANS)

The impasse over Honduras' political future hardened further Wednesday as thousands of supporters of the de-facto government marched through the streets.

They answered the call of Roberto Micheletti, declared head of the de-facto government after President Manuel Zelaya was ousted and exiled June 28, by Congress, the Supreme Court and the military.

Mediation overtures by Costa Rican President Oscar Arias have come to a standstill as Micheletti and Zelaya hurled mutual verbal attacks at each other and vowed that they would not share power in a reconciliation government, as Arias has proposed.

Although the Organisation of American States (OAS) has suspended Honduras' membership until Zelaya, the democratically elected leader, is restored, cracks started forming in the alliance as countries chose sides.

Micheletti's de-facto foreign minister, Carlos Lopez Contreras, declared that Colombian President Alvaro Uribe has expressed his 'affection' for the conservative Micheletti government.

Lopez declared that Colombia is a friend because, like Honduras, Colombia is a victim of 'common external aggressors such as (Venezuelan President) Hugo Chavez'.

More:
http://story.irishsun.com/index.php/ct/9/cid/2411cd3571b4f088/id/522262/cs/1/

[rabs]

2. Colombian foreign ministry yesterday debunked Lopez's claims

An official communique said Colombia stood behind Arias' mediation attempts, which are now a total failure.

An interesting question today was from an AP reporter who asked Arias what the U.S. role had been. Arias responded that Hillary had called him on Sunday from India. Arias said he had told Hillary to call Goriletti and Zelaya. We now know she called Goriletti but apparently NOT Zelaya. Had she called Zelaya, it would have been announced by the Zelaya people.

Judi, keep an eye out the next 24 hours on the frontier towns of Ocatal and Somotillo (and the city of Esteli) in northwestern Nicaragua. Info from Zelaya camp is that he may try to enter Honduras there. Of course the two towns could be a distraction to fool the gorilettis.