Honduran Leader to Return with Entourage

Ousted President Heading Home with Top Officials from U.N., OAS, Argentina and Ecuador

(AP)  Updated at 7:44 p.m. EDT

Honduras' ousted president won overwhelming international support Tuesday as he planned a high-profile return to his chaotic country. The politicians who sent soldiers to fly him into exile in his pajamas said he will be arrested for treason if he tries.

The showdown was building to a climax as the presidents of Argentina and Ecuador signed on to accompany President Manuel Zelaya and other figures on a flight to Honduras on Thursday. Attorney General Luis Alberto Rubi said Zelaya would be seized "as soon as he sets foot on Honduran soil" and face 20 years in prison on charges that also include abuse of authority.

"I'm going back to calm people down. I'm going to try to open a dialogue and put things in order," Zelaya said at the United Nations. "When I'm back, people are going to say ... `commander, we're at your service' and the army will have to correct itself. There's no other possibility."

The U.N. General Assembly voted by acclamation to demand Zelaya's immediate restoration, and the Organization of American States was meeting to consider suspending Honduras for straying from democracy.

With no international support but a significant following at home, the new Honduran leadership called thousands of flag-waving people into a downtown plaza. Soldiers fenced off the area around the presidential palace, where security forces used tear gas and water cannons Monday against Zelaya supporters, injuring and arresting dozens.

The interim president named by Congress, Roberto Micheletti, said Zelaya could be arrested for violating the constitution if he returns. He also said he would not resign no matter how intense the international pressure on Honduras becomes.

"No. I was appointed by Congress, which represents the Honduran people. Nobody can make me resign unless I break the laws of the country," Micheletti said in an interview with The Associated Press at the presidential palace.

Zelaya — whose elected term ends in 2010 — had defied the Supreme Court and called a referendum on constitutional change that opponents worried would lead to Zelaya prolonging his presidency.

Zelaya backed down from the referendum on Tuesday, saying at the United Nations that he would no longer push for the constitutional changes he had wanted.

"I'm not going to hold a constitutional assembly," he said. "And if I'm offered the chance to stay in power, I won't. I'm going to serve my four years."

He said he would then go back to being a farmer — a humble description considering the wealth he has accumulated in ranching and agribusiness.

"I come from the countryside and I'm going to go back to the countryside," he said.

But Micheletti told AP that Zelaya had already violated Honduran law and it was too late for him to avoid arrest if he returns to Honduras.

Micheletti also said he was worried about the possibility of invasion from other Latin American countries, although he did not say which ones.

But earlier Tuesday, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, Zelaya's top ally, said any aggression toward Zelaya from Micheletti's government should prompt a military intervention by the United Nations.

"We thank God for not letting democracy be interrupted in our country," Micheletti said earlier before a crowd of some 5,000 cheering supporters in white and blue, the colors of the Honduran flag. Flanked by soldiers in camouflage, he said: "The heroes of this democratic day are the soldiers."

A pro-Zelaya crowd of about equal size marched toward the presidential palace, now protected by a chain-link fence and more than 500 soldiers and police. They dispersed as rain began to fall in the late afternoon with no reports of violence — a contrast with Monday when Zelaya said more than 150 were injured and 50 arrested. Micheletti's government didn't release figures.

Micheletti's foreign minister, Enrique Ortez, threw a wild card onto the table, telling CNN en Espanol that Zelaya had been letting drug traffickers ship U.S.-bound cocaine from Venezuela through Honduras. Ortez said the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration was aware of Zelaya's ties to organized crime.

Spokesman Rusty Payne could neither confirm nor deny a DEA investigation.

The United States stood firmly by Zelaya, however, with State Department spokesman Ian Kelly saying Washington sees no acceptable solution other than Zelaya's return to power. He said the United States is considering cutting off its aid to Honduras, which includes $215 million over four years from the U.S.-funded Millennium Challenge Corporation.

Micheletti said he had no contact with any U.S. authorities since assuming the presidency.

The U.N. vote added to an avalanche of international denunciations of the military's removal of Zelaya on Sunday, which recalled the dark days of dictatorship for which Latin America was long notorious. The world body called on all 192 U.N. member states to recognize only Zelaya's government in Honduras.

The Organization of American States — whose Secretary-General Jose Miguel Insulza had agreed to accompany Zelaya back to Honduras

planned an emergency meeting in Washington hours later to reinforce the pressure to reinstate the Honduran leader.

Some members — such as Venezuela — want to suspend Honduras under an agreement meant to prevent military coups, while others — including Colombia — argue that while the OAS should condemn the coup, suspending Honduras would be interventionist.

Mexico and Colombia's conservative governments joined the region's leftist leaders in condemning Zelaya's removal. Blocked trucks began lining up along Honduras' borders as neighboring countries imposed a trade ban.

Some local television stations remained off the air and local media carried few reports of demonstrations in Zelaya's favor, apparently under government pressure. Ortez said freedom of expression was in full force but did not directly address the closure of stations or the temporary detention of journalists.

The U.S. military, which has close ties to Honduran commanders, tried to avoid getting caught up in the dispute. It ordered most of its 800 personnel to remain inside the Soto Cano air base, 60 miles (100 kilometers) north of Tegucigalpa, allowing only "mission-essential" tasks, Southern Command spokesman Jose Ruiz said in Miami.

Honduras receives about $1 million a year from the United States to fight drug trafficking and Soto Cano is a key base in the fight against drugs. There's also a contingent of DEA agents in country. U.S. and Honduran officials estimate about 100 tons of Colombian cocaine pass through Honduras annually on their way to the United States.

[Ceres6]

I have no doubt that if the Venezuelan dictator of Hugo Chavez gets away with his sinister plans of making Honduras one more of his pawns, millions of Americans will remember this matter in the next election.

[mer16]

I have tried to post a news report about Zelaya being involved in drug smuggling but for some reason it was censored.

[mer16]

There is a report on Yahoo news that Zelaya is involved in drug smuggling from Venz. The reports are that unregistered planes were landing in Hondorus with loads of cocaine bound for the US from Venz.Supposedly the DEA was investigating this and knew that it was taking place.

[wdh3007]

They should all be arrested when they land he is foolish to return to a country that does not want him. To bad Chavez won't be there aswell they could arrest him too.

[Ceres6]

No one has to be a genius to see that Mr. Manuel Zelaya, an undisputed puppet of Hugo Chavez, had the intention of becoming one more little dictator in Latin America. When Hugo Chavez says play dead, the incompetent and corrupt former president of Manuel Zelaya plays dead, and when Chavez demands a display of affection, Mr. Zelaya salivates and jumps.

Mr. Zelaya was obsessed about changing the Honduran constitution, to open the way for his perpetual reelection, and he was supported by Mr. Chavez. Mr. Zelaya was told by the Honduran Congress, the Supreme Court, and the Military Forces not to mess up with the constitution, and he just went ahead, ignoring all of them. Although the removal of an elected president is a serious business, we don't have to cry for Mr. Zelaya, who was committing treason against his people.

Three days ago, Mr. Chavez said to the media that Obama promised him that he was not going to interfere in the Venezuelan affairs. I don't know if that is true, but if it is, I hope Mr. Obama is aware of all the things at stake in the region. I admire Mr. Obama, but I hope he is wise enough to protect the interests of the people that elected him. In Youtube anyone can see a number of political speeches given by Mr. Chavez barely a year ago, in which several times he screamed vulgarities and he said that American people were human excrement.

American people should be made aware that Mr. Chavez is not just an inoffensive clown. Give him an inch, and he will stab you in the back. He has a demented hatred against the United States. It is not just hate against former president Bush. It is hate for everything sacred to the American people.

This is a unique opportunity for the United States to support the people of Honduras. If Mr. Obama allows Mr. Chavez to get away with the bullying of Honduras and the imposition of another dictatorship in Central America, then it is only a matter of time for the reputation and influence of the United States in Latin America to suffer irreversibly, and for other countries to fall and become pawns of the Caribbean Idi Amin of Mr. Chavez.

[lloydbest1]

First let me say that Chavez is a t*rd. He has no more credibility than Somoza, Batista or Pinochet. The fact he is a leftist is irrelevant. I am not as well informed about Zelaya but I suspect he is as phony a socalist as Uncle Hugo.

Having said that, the record of American interference in Latin affairs is well documented and is probably the most shameful element in our entire history as a nation. Washington has been known or suspected to be involved in at least one overthrow of a popular or democratically elected government in every country south of the Rio Grande (Costa Rica alone excepted). Interference on behalf of the poorer classes, while noble in nature is still interference and unacceptable. But what was/is worse, in nearly all cases the American backed or installed government has had a dramatically negative impact on the peasant majority. Not only did we muscle in but did so to aid American business interests or overly wealthy Latin surrogates at the expense of the peon.

So, in light of that, my answer to Ceres6 is:
No wonder the useless Chavez hates America and all she stands for. I think he's actually being generous. My big beef with him, Zelaya and all the other Latin American "socialist" leaders is not a one of them is moving anywhere nearly fast enough or forcefully enough to improve living conditions of the poorest of their respective nations. My guess is some of them - Chavez certainly - are too busy enriching themselves at the expense of the wealthy classes they are none too successfully separating from their pelf.

Simply being anti-American does not put food on the table, books in the schoolrooms or medicine to those who need it. Zelaya may have gotten a reprieve but if he wants to serve out the remainder of his term in peace he is going to have to step up, confront his wealthy elitist foot dragggers and get serious about raising living standards for the dirt-poor majority. If nothing else, Mexico's Calderon will thank him hugely.

[pohd1]

Obama calls for Zelaya to be reinstated. His term ends in Jan 2010. He's going around the Constitution so he can be elected again and USING the military to do so. The military questions the order to Congress and the Supreme Court who rules the President is doing something UNCONSTITUTIONAL. I know the Marxist and dictators hate the word constitution. He refuses and fires the General a second time insisting that there should be a vote to allow him to run again. The problem ONLY Congress can call for the vote and they refuse to change the constitution for Zelaya. The Supreme Court and Congress issues orders for Zelaya arrest and exile. They could have just killed him or imprisoned him as in the past but wish to continue democratic form of government. The military did not have a coup as the Obama press is stating. The head of the Congress the next in line to led takes the oath of the Presidential Office. Chavez a leftist friend how threatens invasion. If he does what will Obama do. Send air transports, naval vessels to support Chavez? What have we become as a nation to support a dictator like Chavez and Zelaya who now just whats to finish off his presidential term. Will he or will there be an increase presence of Venezuelan and Cuban ADVISERS be the time of the election?

[randomlybanned]

That's a nice cozy picture of the dictators! I guess Obama was taking the picture.

[HonduranOne]

This NEWS report is just WRONG!
It is so Frustrating for everyone in Honduras to know that there is NO major news coverage reporters here in Honduras to report what is truly the feeling of Honduras!

What news is being broadcast is from the Venezuelan Chavez news feeds! How gullible the outside world is!!

Read the Honduran Newspapers elheraldo.hn laprenshan.com proceso.hn tiempo.hn latribuna.hn

They are owned by various people and are not government publications.
CNN espanol is broadcasting shots that do not show the ratio of 20 -1....20 people for the new government - and only talking to the 1 who is yelling for Zeyala because he is being paid to do so!

Send some reporters to Honduras to report the REAL story! This was NOT a coup - it was a legal impeachment according to Honduran law.

[USSAmerikan]

Actually, we have been able to see the demonstrations, wherein five thugs and a goat are for bringing Mel back, and, instead, we saw thousands of people protesting against Mel on Friday and about as many supporting the new president today!!!

[rainbowroosie]

Zelaya will get arrested. He broke the law and continues to force his agenda without the backing of the people, his party, the Congress, or the Supreme Court. Will serve him right if he returns, gets arrested, gets impeached, and is removed with NO constitutional doubt this time. Don't ignore the fact that he broke the law -- as did say Dick Nixon...Fortunately, Honduras' court system and congress is not like Venezuela's -- a rubber stamp for Hugo Chavez aka dictator of Venezuela.

[USSAmerikan]

Mel was given a nice trip to what is known as a vacation paradise, Costa Rica, via private jet and instead he chooses to go to prison for his crimes against the constitution of Honduras? Or more likely, he feels he can tear up his constitution as he sees fit, since he has Obama and Ahmadinejad on his side? Only time will tell...

[rushlimpdrug]

Wow, Obama and Clinton have made some very strong statements.
That will certainly turn this thing around.
Obama's words carry a lot of weight, don't they?

[randomlybanned]

Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha- LMAO!