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Hondurans surround Brazil embassy Hondurans surround Brazil embassy
(about 1 hour later)
Honduran security forces are patrolling the area around Brazil's embassy in the capital after clashes with supporters of ousted president Manuel Zelaya.Honduran security forces are patrolling the area around Brazil's embassy in the capital after clashes with supporters of ousted president Manuel Zelaya.
Mr Zelaya, who has taken refuge inside, accuses interim authorities of attempting to "asphyxiate" the embassy by cutting off supplies.Mr Zelaya, who has taken refuge inside, accuses interim authorities of attempting to "asphyxiate" the embassy by cutting off supplies.
The embassy's lights, water and phones have been cut off and the only contact is by cellphone, Brazilian media say.The embassy's lights, water and phones have been cut off and the only contact is by cellphone, Brazilian media say.
Honduran authorities have demanded Mr Zelaya give himself up to face trial.Honduran authorities have demanded Mr Zelaya give himself up to face trial.
Mr Zelaya made a surprise return from exile on Monday nearly three months after being forced out of the country at gunpoint. But Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva expressed his complete support for the deposed Honduran leader and Brazil has warned Honduran authorities not to contemplate taking any action against the embassy.
Mr Zelaya's supporters are holed up with him in the embassy
Mr Zelaya made a surprise return from exile on Monday nearly three months after being forced out of the country at gunpoint, saying he wanted peaceful dialogue.
The US, Brazil and other governments have joined Mr Zelaya in calling for a negotiated settlement to the crisis.The US, Brazil and other governments have joined Mr Zelaya in calling for a negotiated settlement to the crisis.
A curfew has been imposed, airports shut and roadblocks set up on highways leading into Tegucigalpa.
'Asphyxiation''Asphyxiation'
Security forces surrounded the embassy and used tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse thousands of Mr Zelaya's supporters early on Tuesday. Masked soldiers used truncheons, tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse thousands of Mr Zelaya's supporters early on Tuesday, and they are now patrolling the area around the embassy.
The demonstrators had defied a curfew imposed after Mr Zelaya made his dramatic appearance in the Brazilian embassy on Monday. The demonstrators had defied the curfew imposed after Mr Zelaya made his dramatic appearance in the Brazilian embassy on Monday.
ANALYSIS Gary Duffy, BBC News, Sao Paulo The Brazilian authorities recognise that their staff in Honduras are caught up in a very delicate situation.ANALYSIS Gary Duffy, BBC News, Sao Paulo The Brazilian authorities recognise that their staff in Honduras are caught up in a very delicate situation.
The ambassador is back in Brazil, there is only a charge d'affaires and a very small team, with not much security. Lights, water and telephones were cut off on Monday and the only contact is by mobile phone, Brazilian media report. Power is only being maintained using a generator. The ambassador is back in Brazil, there is only a charge d'affaires and a very small team, with not much security.
However, President Lula has expressed his complete support for Mr Zelaya and the ministry of foreign affairs here says he will not be asked to leave nor will he be handed over to the Honduran authorities. Brazil insists that Mr Zelaya's arrival at the embassy was unexpected and that by allowing him to stay they only did what any democratic government would have done.
The clear message from Brazil is that there has to be a negotiated solution to this crisis. Nonetheless it is clear where the sympathies of the Brazilian authorities lie. They regard Mr Zelaya as the legitimate president of Honduras and say there is no question of either handing him over to the military forces outside or asking him to leave.
A protest leader, Juan Barahona, alleged that police had used live rounds, but this was robustly denied by the interim deputy foreign minister, Martha Lorena Alvarado. One official told me "he is welcome to stay for as long as he wants".
A protest leader, Juan Barahona, alleged that police had used live rounds, but this was denied as "impossible" by the interim deputy foreign minister, Martha Lorena Alvarado.
Another supporter of Mr Zelaya, Guillermo Amador, said many people had been injured and detained, but there has been no official confirmation of this.Another supporter of Mr Zelaya, Guillermo Amador, said many people had been injured and detained, but there has been no official confirmation of this.
Inside the embassy, the lights, water and telephones were cut off on Monday and the only contact is by mobile phone, Brazilian media say. Reports suggest a generator is being used to provide electricity. Inside the embassy, the lights, water and telephones were cut off on Monday and the only contact is by mobile phone, Brazilian media say.
Some 70 supporters of Mr Zelaya are said to be inside, as well as embassy staff. Reports suggest a generator is being used to provide electricity.
Some 70 supporters of Mr Zelaya are also reported to be inside, along with embassy officials.
Mr Zelaya told Venezuelan broadcaster Telesur that interim authorities were cutting off all supplies to the embassy.Mr Zelaya told Venezuelan broadcaster Telesur that interim authorities were cutting off all supplies to the embassy.
"I think they are going to employ a strategy of asphyxiating the embassy by surrounding it, cutting off the food supply, asphyxiating the people inside in order to demonstrate their force and power, and to try and humiliate the people in here who are really trying to find a solution, for dialogue at a national level," he said."I think they are going to employ a strategy of asphyxiating the embassy by surrounding it, cutting off the food supply, asphyxiating the people inside in order to demonstrate their force and power, and to try and humiliate the people in here who are really trying to find a solution, for dialogue at a national level," he said.
TIMELINE: ZELAYA OUSTED 28 June: Zelaya forced out of country at gunpoint5 July: A dramatic bid by Zelaya to return home by plane fails after the runway at Tegucigalpa airport is blocked 25-26 July: Zelaya briefly crosses into the country at the land border with Nicaragua on two consecutive days, in a symbolic move to demand he be allowed to return 21 Sept: Zelaya appears in the Brazilian embassy in Tegulcigalpa In full: Zelaya speaks to BBC In pictures: Zelaya's return Readers' reaction from HondurasTIMELINE: ZELAYA OUSTED 28 June: Zelaya forced out of country at gunpoint5 July: A dramatic bid by Zelaya to return home by plane fails after the runway at Tegucigalpa airport is blocked 25-26 July: Zelaya briefly crosses into the country at the land border with Nicaragua on two consecutive days, in a symbolic move to demand he be allowed to return 21 Sept: Zelaya appears in the Brazilian embassy in Tegulcigalpa In full: Zelaya speaks to BBC In pictures: Zelaya's return Readers' reaction from Honduras
In an interview with BBC Mundo Ms Alvarado, the interim deputy foreign minister, said the government expected "that in the next few hours Brazil would either hand him [Zelaya] over or grant him political asylum".In an interview with BBC Mundo Ms Alvarado, the interim deputy foreign minister, said the government expected "that in the next few hours Brazil would either hand him [Zelaya] over or grant him political asylum".
Despite the international condemnation of the circumstances of Mr Zelaya's removal from office, she said, "that does not permit any embassy to use its diplomatic territory... to urge a civil uprising".Despite the international condemnation of the circumstances of Mr Zelaya's removal from office, she said, "that does not permit any embassy to use its diplomatic territory... to urge a civil uprising".
"It is fine that they support Zelaya's return but by force is not the way to proceed," she said."It is fine that they support Zelaya's return but by force is not the way to proceed," she said.
"When Mr Zelaya was sent into exile, it was precisely to avoid what you are seeing now, disturbances directed by him," Ms Alvarado told BBC Mundo."When Mr Zelaya was sent into exile, it was precisely to avoid what you are seeing now, disturbances directed by him," Ms Alvarado told BBC Mundo.
Speaking in New York, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva repeated his position that a "negotiated and democratic solution" must be found. Brazil warning
Speaking in New York, Brazilian President Lula repeated his position that a "negotiated and democratic solution" must be found.
He urged Mr Zelaya to "be very careful not to allow any pretext for the coup plotters to resort to violence" - and warned Honduran authorities against trying to enter the embassy.He urged Mr Zelaya to "be very careful not to allow any pretext for the coup plotters to resort to violence" - and warned Honduran authorities against trying to enter the embassy.
In addition to the curfew, airports have been shut and roadblocks set up on highways leading into Tegucigalpa.
Calls for calm
Earlier, Brazil's Foreign Minister Celso Amorim warned that any threat to Mr Zelaya or the Brazilian embassy would be a grave breach of international law.Earlier, Brazil's Foreign Minister Celso Amorim warned that any threat to Mr Zelaya or the Brazilian embassy would be a grave breach of international law.
The European Union also called for calm, urging Mr Zelaya and the interim government to negotiate an end to the three-month crisis. Brazil has been keen to demonstrate a clear leadership role over this issue and throughout the Honduran crisis has adopted a very firm line against the coup leaders, says the BBC's Gary Duffy in Sao Paulo.
It added its voice to that of US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who said Mr Zelaya's return must not lead to violence. The European Union has called for calm - adding its voice to that of US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who said Mr Zelaya's return must not lead to violence.
Are you in Honduras? What is your reaction to Manuel Zelaya's return? Did you witness the protests? Send your comments using the form below.Are you in Honduras? What is your reaction to Manuel Zelaya's return? Did you witness the protests? Send your comments using the form below.
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