Central American FMs Condemn Military Coup
in Honduras
Managua - The foreign ministers of the
Central American Integration System (SICA)
member nations Sunday "strongly condemned"
the military coup in Honduras.
The coup which ousted and exiled President
Manuel Zelaya was a "brutal tread" on
democracy and the rule of law, the ministers
said in a statement released at an emergency
SICA meeting.
They urged the Honduras' supreme court to
restore Zelaya to power immediately, saying
that they would not recognize anyone or any
government rising from the coup.
A joint conference between the SICA, which
includes central American nations such as
Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua, and the
Rio Group of colombia, Mexico, Venezuela,
Panama, Peru,
Uruguay, Brazil and Argentina will be held
on Monday to discuss the issue.
Meanwhile, Zelaya arrived Sunday night in
Managua on board a Venezuelan plane to
attend a special summit meeting of the
Bolivarian Alternative for the Americas
(ALBA).
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez said the
coup in Honduras was a "grave challenge" to
democracy and the rule of law in Latin
America upon arriving in Managua for the
ALBA gathering. Chavez said he will stand
firmly by the side of Zelaya.
Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega, the host
of the meeting, said ALBA members will adopt
drastic measures to safeguard peace,
democracy and the rule of law in Latin
American.
Hundreds of troops stormed the presidential
residency in Honduras' capital Tegucigalpa
in the early hours on Sunday. Zelaya was
taken onto a plane and whisked to Costa
Rica.
Honduras' congress named speaker Roberto
Micheletti as the interim president, who
announced a curfew for Sunday and Monday
nights.
Officials from the military told Xinhua
Sunday morning that the armed forces have
controlled the main roads in the capital and
cut off traffic links with the outside.
Few people could be seen on most of the
streets in Tegucigalpa, and stores and
shopping malls were closed.
As night fells in Tegucigalpa, protests
continued at the presidential residency,
parliament building and other places.
Zelaya's supporters refused to leave and
some were burning tyres.
They urged the president to be brought back
and request the army to withdraw
immediately.
The army strengthened patrols over the
areas. Tear gas was used to disperse
protesters and gun shots were fired to
scared them off.
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