Honduran army shuts border as Zelaya plans return

[Judi Lynn]

Honduran army shuts border as Zelaya plans return
by Julia Rios Julia Rios – 37 mins ago

ESTELI, Nicaragua (AFP) – The Honduran army closed the border with Nicaragua Friday just hours before ousted President Manuel Zelaya planned to return to take back power in a showdown with the country's coup leaders.

"I'm walking toward the Honduran border. I hope that a good portion of the Honduran people can get through the barriers," Zelaya said on arrival in the Nicaraguan town of Esteli late Thursday, as scores of supporters flocked to greet him on the other side of the frontier.

Honduran troops expelled Zelaya from the country at gunpoint on June 28 in a move supported by the Central American country's courts and legislature as he sought to hold a referendum on a constitutional amendment to allow him to seek reelection.

But the deposed president said he hoped Honduran soldiers awaiting him would "lower their guns" when they saw their elected leader and join his ranks to "raise the banner of democracy."

"We go with the white flag of peace to proclaim reconciliation for the Honduran people," he said.

"I know that I am in danger, at risk, but I am ready to make the sacrifice, because Honduras needs peaceful change."

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20090724/wl_afp/honduraspoliticsmilitarycoup

[magbana]

1. Just saw on Telesur a representative from a popular organization

attempting to negotiate with Honduran border control to open the border.