Honduran President Manuel Zelaya attends
a news conference in Tegucigalpa, capital of Honduras, on June 27, 2009.
Honduran President Manuel Zelaya was arrested at home on June 28, 2009 by
troops and was taken to an air force base near the capital Tegucigalpa,
Zelaya's private secretary told Xinhua. (Xinhua/David) Photo Gallery>>>
SAN JOSE, June 28 (Xinhua) -- Ousted Honduran
President Manuel Zelaya said on Sunday that he was kidnapped and flown to Costa
Rica against his will and he did not sign a letter of resignation.
"I was kidnapped with force, violence and brutality,"
he told media at a joint press conference with Costa Rican President Oscar Arias
Sanchez.
He said that between eight and 10 hooded and heavily
armed soldiers had entered his home and forced him to board a plane without
telling him the destination.
"I was in my pajamas and did not even have socks on,"
he said.
"This move is a blow to a nation and a slap in the
face for the whole world," he added.
Honduras' congressional leader Roberto
Micheletti, third left, is sworn in as the country's new President at the
National Congress in Tegucigalpa, Sunday, June 28, 2009. (Xinhua/AFP
Photo) Photo
Gallery>>>
Zelaya also denied having signed a letter of
resignation, which was read to the Honduran congress by National Congress
Secretary Jose Alfredo Saavedra. The document read by Saavedra said that Zelaya
was leaving because of a "polarized political situation which could lead to
domestic conflict and insuperable health problems."
"I have not resigned and will not resign," Zelaya
said. "My government will end in 2010. I am Honduras' president and only the
people can remove me or appoint me," he said.
He added that he will participate Monday's Central
American Integration System summit held in the Nicaraguan capital of Managua on
behalf of his country.
Zelaya was removed from office on Sunday afternoon,
just hours after some 200 soldiers surrounded his official residence in the
Honduran capital of Tegucigalpa and forced him to board a plane to Costa Rica.
Demonstrators hold a rally, calling for
the release of Honduran President Manuel Zelaya and preventing soldiers
entering the presidential house in Tegucigalpa, capital of Honduras, on
June 28, 2009. Honduran troops arrested President Manuel Zelaya in an
apparent military coup Sunday to stop him pressing ahead with a
constitutional referendum, in a move triggering global concern.
(Xinhua/David) Photo
Gallery>>>
TEGUCIGALPA, June 28 (Xinhua) -- Newly-appointed acting Honduran President Roberto Micheletti said he has imposed a curfew of two nights starting from late Sunday after the country's soldiers ousted Manuel Zelaya before a national referendum. Full story
TEGUCIGALPA, June 28 (Xinhua) -- Roberto Micheletti, who
was appointed Honduran president by Congress on Sunday, described his coming to
power as "completely legal" in his acceptance speech. Full story
TEGUCIGALPA, June 28 (Xinhua) -- Honduran Supreme Court
said Sunday that it has authorized the removal from office of President Manuel
Zelaya and the nation's armed force has acted in defense of the rule of
law. Full story
SAN JOSE, June 28 (Xinhua) -- Honduran President Manuel
Zelaya told television reporters that he was kidnapped by soldiers and forced
onto a plane to Costa Rica, shortly after his arrival in Costa Rica's capital
San Jose on Sunday.
"I thank all Costa Ricans for their hospitality," he said.
"A few minutes ago President Oscar Arias spoke to me and said that he was ready
to help me with anything. I have not yet asked for asylum in coast Rica. This is
a kidnap, a blackmail addressed to Honduras democratic system," he said. Full story
SAN JOSE, June 28 (Xinhua) -- Honduran President Manuel
Zeyala said on Sunday that he will attend the Central America Integration System
(SICA) summit, which begins on Monday morning, as Honduran representative.
Full story
TEGUCIGALPA, June 28 (Xinhua) -- Honduran Congress on
Sunday formally removed President Manuel Zelaya from his post and put Roberto
Micheletti in his place.
Zelaya was seized by soldiers at his home in the early
hours of Sunday morning and put onto a plane which took him to Costa Rica. Full story
SAN JOSE, June 28 (Xinhua) -- Costa Rican President Oscar
Arias called on the international community and especially the nations of the
Americas to condemn the coup that took place in Honduras earlier on
Sunday. Full story
WASHINGTON, June 28 (Xinhua) -- President Barack Obama on
Sunday voiced his deep concern about the detention and expulsion of Honduran
President Jose Manuel Zelaya by the country's army troops.
In a statement, Obama called on all sides in Honduras
to respect democratic norms and the rule of law, and that "any existing tensions
and disputes must be resolved peacefully through dialogue free from any outside
interference." Full story
