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Clinton to meet ousted Honduran Honduras rivals back peace moves
(about 10 hours later)
Ousted Honduran leader Manuel Zelaya is expected to arrive in Washington later on Tuesday for a meeting with US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. Costa Rican President Oscar Arias is to serve as an international mediator in attempts to resolve the political crisis in Honduras.
The talks follow Mr Zelaya's abortive attempt to return home at the weekend. US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton made the announcement in Washington after meeting the ousted Honduran President, Manuel Zelaya.
She said both Mr Zelaya and the interim Honduran leader, Roberto Micheletti, has agreed on the appointment.
Mr Arias won a Nobel prize in 1987 for helping end the region's civil wars.
"He is the natural person to assume this role," Mrs Clinton said.
She called on all parties to the Honduran conflict to avoid further violence.
Mrs Clinton said her meeting with Mr Zelaya had been productive.
"I reiterated to him that the United States supports the restoration of the democratic, constitutional order in Honduras," she said.
In Honduras itself, Roberto Micheletti - the interim leader - said:
"We are open to dialogue. We want to be heard."
Mr Micheletti's interim government was named by the Honduran Congress to replace Mr Zelaya's administration.
It followed Mr Zelaya's attempts to hold a non-binding public consultation on 28 June to ask people whether they supported moves to change the constitution.
Mr Zelaya was ousted on 28 June. An attempt to fly back to Honduras failed at the weekend when the authorities there blocked the runway at Tegucigalpa airport.
Washington has sharply criticised the use of violence by troops loyal to the interim authorities, which saw at least one Zelaya supporter killed on Sunday.Washington has sharply criticised the use of violence by troops loyal to the interim authorities, which saw at least one Zelaya supporter killed on Sunday.
The interim leadership has also sent a delegation to Washington to try to make their case and discuss the next steps. Mr Zelaya is an ally of the leftist Venezuelan leader, Hugo Chavez, and correspondents say any US support is aimed more at boosting his legal status as the elected president of Honduras than at backing him personally.
The representatives are expected to hold talks with the Organization of American States (OAS), which has condemned the transfer of power in Honduras as a "military coup" and suspended the country's membership. Regional body the Organisation of American States (OAS) has already condemned the ousting of Mr Zelaya as a military coup, and suspended Honduras' membership.
Mr Zelaya, who was removed from office on 28 June accused of violating the constitution, is expected to press the US to impose economic sanctions on the government of interim leader Roberto Micheletti.
In Honduras itself, supporters of the president have vowed to widen protests and block trade.
Some 2,000 of them rallied peacefully near the presidential palace on Monday.
However, despite near-universal support internationally, Mr Zelaya faces some major challenges if he is to be reinstated, say the BBC's Stephen Gibbs in Tegucigalpa.
There is no evidence of disunity in the military, and a substantial proportion of the Honduran population do not want Mr Zelaya to return, our correspondent says.
Failed return
On Sunday, Mr Zelaya failed in an attempt to fly back to Honduras.
His plane circled the airport at Tegucigalpa, but could not land because authorities had blocked the runway with military vehicles.
At a news conference late on Sunday in El Salvador, flanked by the presidents of El Salvador, Argentina, Paraguay and Ecuador, and the Secretary-General of the OAS, Jose Miguel Insulza, Mr Zelaya said:
"I call on the armed forces of Honduras to lower their rifles. I am risking myself personally to resolve the problems without violence."
Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva - speaking to the BBC during a visit to Paris - implied Mr Zelaya had made a mistake in trying to return to Honduras so soon after the country had been suspended by the OAS.
The Brazilian leader said it was "predictable" that the Honduran authorities would not let Mr Zelaya return.
He also called on the interim government to avoid any further use of violence against supporters of the country's deposed president.
Internal challenges
The new government in Honduras, which says it came to power through due legal process, is offering to negotiate with the international community.
Security forces search a civilian at Tegucigalpa airport
But it says the return of Mr Zelaya to the presidency is not possible.
The military - backed by Congress and the courts - forced Mr Zelaya out of Honduras over his plans to hold a vote on possible constitutional change.
Mr Zelaya is a supporter of left-wing Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez.
His opponents, which include the Supreme Court and a majority in Congress , accuse him of seeking to prolong his rule.
Mr Zelaya had wanted to hold a popular vote on convening a constitutional convention - a move his critics say could have removed the current one-term limit for presidents.
Are you in the Honduran capital? Are you a Zelaya supporter? Do you think he should stay away from Honduras? Send us your comments using the form below:Are you in the Honduran capital? Are you a Zelaya supporter? Do you think he should stay away from Honduras? Send us your comments using the form below:
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