This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/americas/8484181.stm
The article has changed 8 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Honduras' Zelaya heads to exile | |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| Deposed Honduran leader Manuel Zelaya has flown into exile, ending a months-long political crisis in the country. | Deposed Honduran leader Manuel Zelaya has flown into exile, ending a months-long political crisis in the country. |
| Hundreds of supporters, many waving flags, saw him off at the airport, live pictures from Telesur TV showed. | Hundreds of supporters, many waving flags, saw him off at the airport, live pictures from Telesur TV showed. |
| His departure marks the end of efforts to return to office after soldiers forced him into exile at gunpoint on 28 June over a constitutional dispute. | |
| Earlier, the newly-elected Honduran President, Porfirio Lobo, promised him safe passage to the Dominican Republic. | |
| Under a deal struck by the two men, Mr Zelaya agreed to fly to exile as a way to avoid prosecution in Honduras on charges he violated the constitution while in office. | Under a deal struck by the two men, Mr Zelaya agreed to fly to exile as a way to avoid prosecution in Honduras on charges he violated the constitution while in office. |
| Mr Lobo said the measure - first proposed months ago in failed mediation talks in Costa Rica - was needed as part of a process of reconciliation. | |
| Fond farewell | |
| Mr Zelaya boarded a plane, reported to be the official jet of Dominican Republic President Leonel Fernandez, hours after Mr Lobo was sworn in as president. | Mr Zelaya boarded a plane, reported to be the official jet of Dominican Republic President Leonel Fernandez, hours after Mr Lobo was sworn in as president. |
| He was taken to the airport in a convoy of around 15 vehicles, accompanied by the two leaders. | He was taken to the airport in a convoy of around 15 vehicles, accompanied by the two leaders. |
| "See you later Papa Mel. God bless you," read a placard carried by one supporter, using Mr Zelaya's nickname. | "See you later Papa Mel. God bless you," read a placard carried by one supporter, using Mr Zelaya's nickname. |
| He has spent the last four months sheltering in the Brazilian embassy, after returning in secret in September. | He has spent the last four months sheltering in the Brazilian embassy, after returning in secret in September. |
| His June ousting provoked international condemnation but diplomatic attempts to persuade the interim government to allow Mr Zelaya to return to office proved futile. | His June ousting provoked international condemnation but diplomatic attempts to persuade the interim government to allow Mr Zelaya to return to office proved futile. |
| With opinion divided in Honduras and internationally, several nations have refused to recognise the legitimacy of the November election, in which Mr Lobo defeated Mr Zelaya. | With opinion divided in Honduras and internationally, several nations have refused to recognise the legitimacy of the November election, in which Mr Lobo defeated Mr Zelaya. |
| Mr Lobo's first act upon taking office was to sign a decree giving amnesty to the soldiers, politicians and judges who brought about the June ousting. | |
| Mr Zelaya was removed amid a dispute over his plans 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. | |
| Mr Zelaya repeatedly said he had no interest in staying in power but wanted to rewrite an outdated constitution to guarantee fairer representation for all Hondurans. |