Ousted Honduran President, Manuel Zelaya, Says Not to Return Home Now

2009-08-14 20:25:27  

    SANTIAGO, Aug. 13 (Xinhua) --

Ousted Honduran President Manuel Zelaya said on Thursday that he would not return to his country for the moment, as there was a death threat against him.

    During a meeting with Chilean President Michelle Bachelet in Santiago, Zelaya thanked the Chilean government for offering support to him.

    Zelaya called for criminal punishment the coup leaders and asked his supporters in Honduras to stick to peaceful protests.

    At a news briefing, Zelaya told reporters that whether Honduras' political crisis could be resolved depends to a large extent on the U.S. position.

    Although the Obama Administration has condemned the coup, Zelaya still hoped that the U.S. could adopt more drastic measures to pressure the interim government led by post-coup leader Roberto Micheletti.

    At the meeting, Bachelet reiterated her country's support for Zelaya, saying Chile would not recognize the legitimacy of the interim Honduran regime.

    Zelaya is currently on a diplomatic swing through Latin America to enlist international support for him and bring pressure on the interim regime.

    In the June 28 coup, Zelaya was ousted from office and parliament leader Micheletti took power. Zelaya has repeatedly tried but failed to return to Honduras, after being obstructed by the interim authorities.

Editor: Sun Yunlong

Zelaya, Lula ask for bigger U.S. role in solving Honduran crisis

2009-08-13 09:23:17  

·Zelaya and Lula called on U.S. to use more influence to help solve Honduran crisis. ·Brazilian FM said Zelaya's return would largely depend on position of the United States. ·Zelaya arrived in Brasilia Tuesday and was welcomed with honors for a head of state.

    BRASILIA, Aug. 12 (Xinhua) --

Ousted Honduran President Manuel Zelaya and Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva on Wednesday called on the United States to use more political influence to help solve the Honduran crisis.

    Zelaya, who was in Brazil for a visit, called on the U.S. government to take more measures such as trade sanctions against the Honduran interim government. 70 percent of the Honduran economy depends on the United States.

    Reaffirmed his support for Zelaya's "immediate and unconditional" return to Honduras, Lula said he would talk to his U.S. counterpart Barack Obama on the issue at an appropriate time.

    But there wasn't a date set for the conversation between the two leaders.

    After the meeting, Brazilian Foreign Minister Celson Amorim told the press that Zelaya's return would largely depend on the position of the United States.

    "President Lula said that clearly we are concerned by the delay (of Zelaya's return), because as time passes, the possibility that President Zelaya's legitimate elections (scheduled for November) is weakening," Amorim said.

    Zelaya was expected to end his term as president at year-end.

    "This depends on what the United States will act," Amorim said.

    "It must be a multilateral action. We believe that actions should be conducted by the OAS (Organization of American States)," he added.

    Zelaya was deposed in a June 28 military coup. Following the coup, Brazil recalled its ambassador from Honduras and suspended cooperation with the Central American nation.

    Zelaya arrived in Brasilia Tuesday and was welcomed by the Brazilian government with honors for a head of state.

    He will leave Thursday morning for Chile to meet with President Michelle Bachelet.

Editor: Li