CRISIS IN HONDURAS
Hondurans Rumble for Zelaya Return
By Raimundo Lopez, special correspondent,
Prensa Latina
Tegucigalpa - Several hundred Hondurans in
the streets early today demanded the return
of President Manuel Zelaya, in spite of a
curfew declared by the de facto government.
Along Juan Pablo II avenue in open defiance
of the clampdown on public gatherings from 9
pm to 6 am, people gathered near the home of
the President to call for his reinstatement.
A large bonfire burns 500 meters from the
government headquarters, and youth from the
Democratic Unification Party and other
organizations opposed to the coup have set
up barricades in protest.
Armored vehicles stood by the entrance at
Plaza Morazan and troops shot into the air
in the rain around 7:30 pm local time.
From speakers on a truck, leaders continue
to demand Zelayo's immediate return to
government, with armed soldiers in riot gear
behind the line.
Calling Zelayo by his popular nickname,
demonstrators shouted We want Mel and No to
the coup, well within earshot of the
occupiers.
We will stay all night, tomorrow, whatever
it takes to get President Zelayo back, said
United Federation of Honduran Workers
president Juan Baraona to Prensa Latina.
On Sunday political and grassroots
organizations created the Popular Resistance
Front, which called a strike that includes
unions, campesino and student groups. |
