TEGUCIGALPA, July 17 (Xinhua) -- Honduran post-coup leader Roberto Micheletti would be ready to accept a new president to end the political crisis in the country, a senior official said Friday.

    Without violating the constitution, Micheletti is "ready to accept a third president," said Rafael Pineda Ponce, a senior official of the Micheletti's government. He added that the new incumbent would be neither Micheletti nor ousted President Manuel Zelaya.

Honduras' ousted President Manuel Zelaya listens to questions during a news conference at the Honduras embassy in Managua July 17, 2009. Xinhua/Reuters Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    Micheletti was appointed interim president by the congress hours after Zelaya was seized from his bed and forced to fly to Costa Rica in a military coup on June 28.

    Zelaya, with wide international support, has been actively pressing for his reinstatement.

    His representatives and those for the Honduran interim government will hold talks mediated by Costa Rican President Oscar Arias Saturday to find a solution to the crisis in Honduras.

    Arias, who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1987 for helping to end Central America's wars, has indicated that his proposal for a coalition government would dominate the talks.

    Nevertheless, Micheletti on Thursday rejected the proposal that called for the establishment of a government of "national reconciliation."

    Zelaya also reject the power-sharing idea in which he could return to serve out the remaining months of his term, but with limited powers.

    "I cannot accept a reward for the coup leaders because that would be an aberration," he said.

    Arias, however, expressed his optimism about the proposal earlier on Friday, saying both camps have "softened, and I think we are going to find more flexibility."

    Meanwhile, local media reported that Zelaya, who is currently in the Nicaraguan capital of Managua, gave negotiators until the end of Saturday to reach a deal with coup leaders to reinstate him in office.

    At the Honduran embassy in Nicaragua, he told reporters that he would consider negotiations a failure if an agreement to reinstate him were not reached by midnight.

    Patricia Rodas, Zelaya's foreign minister, said the ousted president would return to Honduras to install a parallel government if negotiations fail.

    "I am going back to Honduras but I am not going to give you the date, hour or place, or say if I'm going to enter through land, air or sea," Zelaya was quoted as saying by local media.

    His previous attempt to fly back to Honduras on July 5 was thwarted by Honduran troops that prevented the plane from landing in the capital of Tegucigalpa.

    In Honduras, Zelaya's supporters blocked the entrance to Tegucigalpa for the second day in a row.

    His followers also protested at Honduras's borders with El Salvador and Guatemala to demand his reinstatement. A spokesman for the protestors said their "companions" from El Salvador supported them.

    The ousted president's followers said they will step up their protests until Micheletti steps down.

    In Washington, U.S. State Department spokesman Robert Wood called on nations in the region to support the upcoming talks mediated by Arias.

    "We don't want people to take steps that in any way conflict or don't contribute positively to the Arias mediation efforts," Wood told reporters.

    He said the Arias engagement process is the best way to help Honduras "return to democratic and constitutional order."




Honduran interim government sacks 16 diplomats 


   TEGUCIGALPA, July 17 (Xinhua) -- The Honduran interim Foreign Ministry on Friday sacked 16 diplomats amid an ongoing political crisis in the Central American country.

   In a statement, the foreign ministry accused these diplomats of engaging in malpractice and embezzlement of state wealth and said will probe into the case together with the judiciary. Full story


Fidel Castro urges U.S. to cut off aid to post-coup government in Honduras

   HAVANA, July 17 (Xinhua) -- Cuban former Leader Fidel Castro on Friday urged the U.S. administration to cut off aid to the post-coup government in Honduras, local media reported.

   In his "Reflections" column article entitled "What must be demanded to U.S." published Friday by local press, Castro said, "the only right thing at the moment is to demand the U.S. government to stop its interventions, to stop giving military aid to the coup leaders." Full story

Ousted Honduran president's followers block entrance to capital for 2nd day

    TEGUCIGALPA, July 17 (Xinhua) -- Supporters for Honduras' ousted President Manuel Zelaya on Friday blocked the entrance to Tegucigalpa, capital of the Central American nation, for a second day.

    Zelaya's followers also protested at the border with El Salvador and Guatemala to demand his reinstatement. Full story

Ousted Honduran president gives negotiators until end of Saturday to reinstate him

    MANAGUA, July 17 (Xinhua) -- Ousted Honduran President Manuel Zelaya gave negotiators until the end of Saturday to reach deal with coup leaders to reinstate him to office, local media reported.

    Zelaya told reporters at the Honduran Embassy in Nicaragua that he would consider negotiations a failure if an agreement to reinstate him could not be reached by midnight.Full story 

Ousted Honduran president says Hondurans have right to "insurrection"

    MEXICO CITY, July 14 (Xinhua) -- Ousted Honduran President Manuel Zelaya on Tuesday said Hondurans "have the right to insurrection" against the interim government that toppled him by a military coup.

Ousted Honduras President Manuel Zelaya speaks to the media during a news conference at the Honduras embassy in Managua beside his Foreign Minister Patricia Rodas July 13, 2009. Manuel Zelaya on Monday gave a one-week ultimatum to the coup government of Roberto Micheletti to restore his presidential power as demanded by the governments and organizations from the world. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    "Nobody owes allegiance to a usurper government that took power by arms, and the people have the right to insurrection," Zelaya said at a joint news conference with Guatemalan President Alvaro Colom in Guatemala City. Full story

Ousted Honduran president gives one-week ultimatum to post-coup leader

    MANAGUA, July 13 (Xinhua) -- The ousted Honduran President Manuel Zelaya on Monday gave a one-week ultimatum to the coup government of Roberto Micheletti to restore his presidential power as demanded by the governments and organizations from the world.

    "We give an ultimatum for no later than the next meeting to be held this week in San Jose, Costa Rica, to fulfill the demands expressed by international organizations, otherwise the negotiation will be considered failed and we will take other measures," Zelaya read a communique in Managua. Full story

Honduras crisis talks end without agreement

    SAN JOSE, July 10 (Xinhua) -- The representatives of Honduran ousted President Manuel Zelaya and post-coup leader Roberto Micheletti on Friday finished their talks on Honduras' political crisis without reaching an agreement, but promising more meetings.

    The gathering between the two rivals was scheduled for two days beginning Thursday, with the mediation of Costa Rican President Oscar Arias. But the two failed to have a face-to-face meeting, instead, they left four commissioners on each side to continue the talks. Full story

Ousted Honduran president thanks Costa Rican president for mediation efforts

    SAN JOSE, July 9 (Xinhua) -- Honduras' ousted President Manuel Zelaya thanked on Thursday Costa Rican President Oscar Arias for his mediation efforts aimed at finding a solution to the political crisis in the post-coup country.

Honduras' ousted President Manuel Zelaya (L) talks with Costa Rican President Oscar Arias in front of Oscar Arias's residence in San Jose, capital of Costa Rica, July 9, 2009. Manuel Zelaya and Honduran post-coup leader Roberto Micheletti are due to make mediation dialogue hosted by Oscar Arias here on Thursday to try to thrash out a solution to the political crisis triggered by last month's coup in the Central American state. (Xinhua/Esteban Datos) Photo Gallery>>>

    After meeting with Arias, Zelaya gave a brief declaration, in which he thanked Arias for his disposition to listen to the representatives of the Honduran enterprises, citizens and unions, who accompanied Zelaya to Costa Rica. Full story

Ousted Honduran president arrives in Costa Rica for mediation talks

    SAN JOSE, July 8 (Xinhua) -- Honduras' ousted President Manuel Zelaya arrived on Wednesday in Costa Rica, where he will have a meeting with post-coup leader Roberto Micheletti to seek a solution to the ongoing political crisis in their country.

Ousted Honduran President Manuel Zelaya (R)is greeted by Costa Rican Foreign Minister Bruno Stagno upon his arrival at the international airport in San Jose, Costa Rica, July 8, 2009. Manuel Zelaya said on Wednesday he would demand the removal of the post-coup government within 24 hours at talks in Costa Rica. Costa Rican President Oscar Arias will welcome Zelaya and Micheletti on Thursday at his residence, kicking off a mediation process between the two sides.(Xinhua/Esteban Datos) Photo Gallery>>>

    Costa Rican President Oscar Arias will welcome Zelaya and Micheletti on Thursday at his residence, kicking start a mediation process seeking an agreement between the two sides. Full story

Ousted Honduran president demands removal of rivals in 24 hours

    SAN JOSE, July 8 (Xinhua) -- Honduras' ousted President Manuel Zelaya said on Wednesday he will demand the removal of the post-coup government within 24 hours at talks in Costa Rica.

Ousted Honduran President Manuel Zelaya speaks to the media upon his arrival at the international airport in San Jose, Costa Rica, July 8, 2009. Manuel Zelaya said on Wednesday he would demand the removal of the post-coup government within 24 hours at talks in Costa Rica. Costa Rican President Oscar Arias will welcome Zelaya and Micheletti on Thursday at his residence, kicking off a mediation process between the two sides.(Xinhua/Esteban Datos) Photo Gallery>>>

    Zelaya arrived in San Jose on Wednesday, where he is expected to meet post-coup leader Roberto Micheletti to seek a solution to the ongoing political crisis in their country. Full story

Ousted Honduran president rejects negotiations with coup leaders

    SANTIAGO, July 8 (Xinhua) -- Ousted Honduran President Manuel Zelaya said on Wednesday that he will not negotiate with the post-coup authorities in his country during an upcoming mediation process led by Costa Rican President Oscar Arias.

    Speaking to Chilean TV channel "24 Horas," Zelaya said that post-coup leader Roberto Micheletti was "brute," so were his coup d'etat, his "murders" and "violations to the human rights."  Full story

Can ousted Honduran president return home for immediate reinstatement?

    TEGUCIGALPA, July 4 (Xinhua) -- Ousted Honduran President Manuel Zelaya said Saturday that he would return to his country on Sunday as scheduled, but, it remains a question whether Zelaya can succeed in making his way home and realize an immediate reinstatement.

The ousted President of Honduras Manuel Zelaya speaks during a press conference at the UN headquarters in New York, the United States, June 30, 2009. (Xinhua, File Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    Zelaya told Caracas-based TV station Telesur that he would show up at Honduras International Airport in Tegucigalpa with several presidents and representatives from some international groups. Full story