CRISIS IN HONDURAS
OAS Gives Honduran
Coup Leaders 72 Hours To Reinstate Deposed
President
Washington -
The Organization of American States (OAS)
gave the coup leaders in Honduras three days
to reinstate deposed president Manuel Zelaya,
or the country will face suspension.
"If within 72 hours the reinstatement
doesn't happen, the (OAS)assembly ... will
meet again to suspend Honduras," OAS chief
Jose Miguel Insulza told reporters
Wednesday.
OAS members held meetings in the Washington
headquarters Tuesday and decided to take
diplomatic and political steps necessary to
restore democracy in Honduras, Insulza said.
Zelaya, toppled and exiled by the military
Sunday, gained wide international support.
The UN General Assembly on Tuesday adopted a
resolution condemning the military coup in
Honduras and demand an immediate restoration
of Zelaya's government.
Zelaya said Tuesday that he will return to
Honduras Thursday, flanked by the president
of the UN General Assembly, the
secretary-general of the Organization of
American States (OAS) and presidents of
Argentina and Ecuador.
Honduran Attorney General Luis Alberto Rubi
said Zelaya would be arrested "as soon as he
sets foot on Honduran soil" and he could
face 20 years in prison.
Rubi said Zelaya's arrest warrant include 18
separate crimes such as abuse of power and
treason.
"If Zelaya loves Honduras he should not
come," said the coup-installed president
Roberto Micheletti in a Tuesday interview
with local radio station HRN.
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