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| Caribbean-Latin America |
| Honduran military, police patrol southern border |
| 2009-07-24 |
| ESTELI, Nicaragua -- Honduras reinforced its southern border with Nicaragua Thursday as the country's ousted president, Manuel Zelaya, said he will try to cross the frontier, possibly within hours or during the next few days. At Las Manos, a usually sleepy border crossing with Nicaragua, police in riot gear and soldiers with M-16s patrolled the area, telling travelers that they would not be able to cross until afternoon. Zelaya, who was ousted June 28, is threatening to lead a caravan of supporters across one of Honduras' three international frontiers to reclaim the presidency. He has spent much of this week in Nicaragua, where he has found a staunch ally in President Daniel Ortega, leading many to believe it's along Honduras' southern flank that he will make his move. Key to Zelaya's return, aides say, is being able to gather a protective crowd of supporters on the Honduran side of the border. On Thursday, police seemed to be thwarting attempts by Hondurans to congregate near the border. Antonio Cartagena, 71, said he traveled with about 40 others from Sonaguera, a town in the Honduran department of Colón, to await Zelaya at Las Manos -- one of three official border crossings with Nicaragua. Cartagena said police detained their bus about nine miles outside of town, and only about a dozen passengers were able to make it to the border by walking and hitchhiking. Cartagena said at least four other buses had been detained before they could reach the border. ``We're here to welcome a good man back to the country,'' said Cartagena. ``The government claims they are not restricting our travel or speech, but what do you call this?'' |
| Posted by:Steve White |