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| Caribbean-Latin America |
| Honduran leader tells Zelaya to turn himself in |
| 2009-09-23 |
| Honduran interim leader Roberto Micheletti has urged ousted President Manuel Zelaya to turn himself over to authorities to face charges of corruption and violating the constitution. After three months in exile, Zelaya returned to Honduras on Monday and sought refuge at the Brazilian Embassy in Tegucigalpa to avoid arrest. On June 28, the Honduran military deposed Zelaya in a coup after he decided to hold a referendum on lifting presidential term limits. Micheletti asked Brazil to hand Zelaya over so he could be arrested under a warrant issued by the Supreme Court charging him with treason and abuse of authority. In an interview with Reuters on Tuesday, Micheletti said that he has no intention of confronting Brazil or entering its embassy. However, soldiers used tear gas and water cannons to chase away thousands who demonstrated outside the embassy on Tuesday. "We know we are in danger," Zelaya said on Tuesday. "We are ready to risk everything, to sacrifice." A 26-hour curfew imposed Monday afternoon closed businesses and schools, leaving the capital's streets nearly deserted. |
| Posted by:Fred |