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Honduras Congress rejects Zelaya | Honduras Congress rejects Zelaya |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Congress in Honduras has voted overwhelmingly against allowing ousted President Manuel Zelaya to serve out the last two months of his term. | Congress in Honduras has voted overwhelmingly against allowing ousted President Manuel Zelaya to serve out the last two months of his term. |
Of the 125 members of Congress present, 111 voted against his reinstatement. | Of the 125 members of Congress present, 111 voted against his reinstatement. |
Mr Zelaya, who was removed from office in June, told the BBC the decision "ratifies the coup" and meant Hondurans were "living in illegality". | |
The former leader has also condemned Sunday's presidential elections, won by Conservative politician Porfirio Lobo. | |
As well as Brazil, several other nations, including Argentina and Venezuela, have refused to recognise the vote, arguing it was held under an illegitimate government. | As well as Brazil, several other nations, including Argentina and Venezuela, have refused to recognise the vote, arguing it was held under an illegitimate government. |
The US cautiously welcomed the polls, and Peru, Panama, Colombia and Costa Rica also voiced their support. | The US cautiously welcomed the polls, and Peru, Panama, Colombia and Costa Rica also voiced their support. |
'Honduran reality' | 'Honduran reality' |
After Congress voted not to reinstate him until his term ends in January, Mr Zelaya said: "This decision ratifies a coup and condemns Honduras to continue living in illegality." | After Congress voted not to reinstate him until his term ends in January, Mr Zelaya said: "This decision ratifies a coup and condemns Honduras to continue living in illegality." |
On Monday, he had said the election of Mr Lobo as the next president had served only to intensify the political crisis. | On Monday, he had said the election of Mr Lobo as the next president had served only to intensify the political crisis. |
Speaking to BBC Mundo from inside the Brazilian embassy where he took refuge in September, he said: "Will the elections change the military leadership that conducted the coup that ousted me? It remains the same." | |
Mr Lobo, who lost to Mr Zelaya in the 2005 election, has pledged to form a unity government and seek dialogue. He is due to take office on 27 January. | |
Mr Lobo also urged the international community to "understand the Honduran reality and stop punishing the country". | |
Mr Zelaya was forced into exile on 28 June after trying to hold a vote on whether a constituent assembly should be set up to look at rewriting the constitution. | Mr Zelaya was forced into exile on 28 June after trying to hold a vote on whether a constituent assembly should be set up to look at rewriting the constitution. |
His critics said the vote, which was ruled illegal by the Supreme Court, aimed to remove the current one-term limit on serving as president and pave the way for his possible re-election. | His critics said the vote, which was ruled illegal by the Supreme Court, aimed to remove the current one-term limit on serving as president and pave the way for his possible re-election. |
Mr Zelaya has repeatedly denied this and pointed out that it would have been impossible to change the constitution before his term in office was up. | Mr Zelaya has repeatedly denied this and pointed out that it would have been impossible to change the constitution before his term in office was up. |