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| Exile begins for Honduras' Zelaya | |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| Deposed Honduran leader Manuel Zelaya has arrived in the Dominican Republic, beginning his exile and ending seven months of turmoil in Honduras. | |
| Hundreds of supporters, many waving flags, watched him leave the airport in the Honduran capital, Tegucigalpa. | |
| 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. | 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. |
| Newly-elected President Porfirio Lobo had offered him safe passage. | |
| 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 that 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. | 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. |
| Mr Zelaya travelled to the Dominican Republic on the presidential plane, accompanied by the country's president, Leonel Fernandez, who attended the swearing-in ceremony for Mr Lobo hours before. | |
| Mr Zelaya's wife, Xiomara Castro, his two young sons and his political advisor, Rasel Tome, also travelled with him. | |
| Fond farewell | Fond farewell |
| Mr Zelaya was taken to the Tegucigalpa airport in a convoy of around 15 vehicles. | |
| President Lobo promised Mr Zelaya safe passage | |
| "See you later Papa Mel. God bless you," read one supporter's placard, using Mr Zelaya's nickname. | |
| He has spent the past 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 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. |