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Confusion over Zelaya exile
There are reports that ousted Honduran President Manuel Zelaya is about to leave for exile in Mexico but it is unclear if and when he will go.Sources close to Mr Zelaya indicated he would leave Brazil's embassy in the capital, Tegucigalpa, where he has been holed up, and fly to Mexico. But Mr Zelaya told Telesur he would not leave as an asylum seeker. Porfirio Lobo won presidential polls late last month and Congress voted not to allow Mr Zelaya to serve out his last two months of office. Sources close to Mr Zelaya said he wanted to leave the country but it was not confirmed whether he would be allowed safe passage. However, the AFP news agency quoted the head of the Honduran Civil Aviation Authority as saying a Mexican plane was en route to pick up Mr Zelaya. The Associated Press news agency quoted a Honduran foreign ministry spokesman as saying a safe-conduct pass had been signed. Mr Zelaya told Telesur he would not leave the country as an asylum seeker and he insisted he was still the president. But he later told Radio Globo he was negotiating a "consensual solution". And he told Honduran television he was waiting to see whether the "de facto regime" would confirm that he had safe passage to leave. Mr Zelaya returned to Honduras from exile on 21 September and has been staying at the Brazilian embassy to avoid arrest. Conditions inside the embassy are reported to be uncomfortable and the building is surrounded by soldiers and armed police. After his victory, Mr Lobo pledged to form a unity government and seek dialogue. He also urged the international community to "understand the Honduran reality and stop punishing the country". But Mr Zelaya has described the presidential elections as "electoral fraud". Several Latin American nations, including Brazil, refused to recognise the elections. Posted by: Pappy 2009-12-10 |
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