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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 the interim authorities of attempting to "asphyxiate" the embassy by cutting off supplies. Mr Zelaya, who is inside after making a surprise return from exile, accuses interim authorities of "asphyxiating" the embassy by cutting off supplies.
The embassy's lights, water and phones have been cut off and the only contact is by mobile phone, Brazil's media say. Brazil's president has warned against any action being taken on the embassy.
Honduran authorities have demanded Mr Zelaya give himself up to face trial. Interim leader Roberto Micheletti has denied any action is planned, and has urged Mr Zelaya to turn himself in.
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 defied a curfew imposed by interim authorities
Mr Zelaya's supporters are holed up with him in the embassy Mr Zelaya arrived in the Honduran capital, Tegulcigalpa, on Monday nearly three months after being forced out of the country at gunpoint, saying he wanted peaceful dialogue.
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.A curfew has been imposed, airports shut and roadblocks set up on highways leading into Tegucigalpa.
'Asphyxiation' Brazilian warning
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. Early on Tuesday soldiers used truncheons, tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse thousands of Mr Zelaya's supporters, and are now patrolling the area around the embassy.
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.The ambassador is back in Brazil, there is only a charge d'affaires and a very small team, with not much security.
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.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.
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.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.
One official told me "he is welcome to stay for as long as he wants".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. Mr Micheletti congratulated the armed forces on the operation, saying there had been "not one death".
Another supporter of Mr Zelaya, Guillermo Amador, said many people had been injured and detained, but there has been no official confirmation of this. Hospital officials said up to 20 people had been treated for injuries.
Inside the embassy, the lights, water and telephones were cut off on Monday and the only contact is by mobile phone, Brazilian media say. The demonstrators had defied a curfew imposed by authorities on Monday afternoon until Tuesday evening.
Reports suggest a generator is being used to provide electricity. Some 70 supporters of Mr Zelaya are reported to be inside the embassy.
Some 70 supporters of Mr Zelaya are also reported to be inside, along with embassy officials. The lights, water and telephones were cut off on Monday and the only contact is by mobile phone, Brazilian media say. A generator is being used to provide electricity.
Mr Zelaya told Venezuelan broadcaster Telesur that interim authorities were cutting off all supplies to the embassy. Interim authorities were employing 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", Mr Zelaya told Venezuela's Telesur TV earlier on Tuesday.
"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. The US state department said the US embassy in Tegucigalpa had been in contact with the Brazilian mission to discuss "what kind of assistance that we can provide to help them during this crisis", spokesman Ian Kelly reportedly said.
Later he told AFP news agency he had spoken to soldiers and police on Monday to try to seek a way out of the crisis.
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, interim leader Roberto Micheletti said he had no intention of confronting Brazil or entering its embassy. Speaking in New York, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva repeated his position that a "negotiated and democratic solution" must be found.
He told Reuters news agency that Mr Zelaya could stay in the embassy for "five to 10 years" if he wanted to, but urged him to turn himself in to face charges of corruption and violating the constitution.
Earlier, Ms Alvarado, the interim deputy foreign minister, said she expected Brazil either to hand Mr Zelaya over or grant him political asylum.
Despite international condemnation of the circumstances of Mr Zelaya's removal from office, she told BBC Mundo, "that does not permit any embassy to use its diplomatic territory... to urge a civil uprising".
The interim administration in Honduras insists no coup took place - but a "constitutional succession" ordered by the courts and approved by Congress.
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.
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. Interim leader Mr Micheletti said he had no intention of confronting Brazil or entering its embassy.
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. He told Reuters news agency that Mr Zelaya could stay in the embassy for "five to 10 years" if he wanted to, but urged him to turn himself in to face charges of corruption and violating the constitution.
The interim administration in Honduras says Brazil should either hand over Mr Zelaya to face trial or grant him political asylum.
It insists no coup has taken place in Honduras - but rather a "constitutional succession" ordered by the courts and approved by Congress.
US warning
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 interim government, says the BBC's Gary Duffy in Sao Paulo.
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.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.
In his comments on Tuesday, the US state department's Mr Kelly repeated the warning.
"Respect and protection for the inviolability of diplomatic premises is a universally accepted principle of international relations," Mr Kelly said.
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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