Honduras' De Facto Leader Demands Brazilian
Embassy To Hand Over Zelaya
Tegucigalpa - Honduras' de facto President
Roberto Micheletti demanded on Monday the
Brazilian embassy hand over ousted President
Manuel Zelaya to the Honduran justice
authorities.
Micheletti said Zelaya should accept his
duty of going to the Honduran authorities
for his continuing violations of the law.
Zelaya announced on Monday his arrival in
Honduras' capital Tegucigalpa. He is
currently staying at the Brazilian embassy,
where thousands of his followers arrived to
demand his return to power.
"The presence of Zelaya does not change our
reality," Micheletti said in a message to
the nation.
The de facto government accuses Zelaya of 18
crimes, including betrayal to the country,
misuse of public money and attempting to
change the form of government.
In his message, Micheletti said it is not
clear yet why Zelaya returned to Honduras.
The only possible motive of Zelaya is to
boycott the general elections to be held on
Nov. 29, said Micheletti.
"His presence in the country neither changes
the electoral process, which began during
his administration one year ago and will
finish on Nov. 29," Micheletti said.
Micheletti said his government has "till now
respected the international statute of the
Brazilian (diplomat) representation in
Honduras although it has not recognized the
(Honduran) constitutional government."
The Brazilian government condemned the
Honduran coup from the beginning and did not
recognize the de facto government. Brazil
pulled out is ambassador from Honduras and
suspended several cooperation agreements
with the country.
Micheletti said that Honduras' problem is
internal and not a problem affecting the
international peace and security.
"We will defend our sovereignty and self
determination, together the government, army
and all the Honduran people," Micheletti
added.
After Zelaya's arrival in Honduras, the de
facto government ordered a curfew from 4:00
p.m. (2200 GMT) to 7:00 a.m. (1300 GMT) |
