Washington/Tegucigalpa - The United States on Monday
criticized the use of force against protestors in Honduras and
reiterated calls for the lawful restoration of ousted President
Manuel Zelaya.
'We deplore the use of force against demonstrators in Tegucigalpa
in recent days,' US State Department spokesman Ian Kelly said. 'We
once again call upon the de facto regime and all actors in Honduras
to refrain from all acts of violence.'
Zelaya was due to arrive overnight in Washington for talks on
Tuesday with US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.
Meanwhile, the Honduran public prosecutor's office launched an
investigation into the deaths of two people during a demonstration on
Sunday by protestors demanding Zelaya's return. Fresh protests were
being planned Monday in the Honduran capital Tegucigalpa by Zelaya
supporters, as well as backers of the post-coup government led by
former Congress speaker Roberto Micheletti.
The Micheletti government was severely criticized for media
censorship, as international television channels and radio stations
were cut off when they broadcast comments by Zelaya or others
opposing the coup.
The streets of Tegucigalpa were deserted Monday as Honduran
authorities extended a curfew, schools and universities suspended
classes, shops were shuttered and public buildings were closed.
'The people are going to keep fighting in the streets because that
is a right that the constitution grants them,' one Zelaya supporter
said.
When Zelaya arrived Sunday in El Salvador, after a failed attempt
to return to Tegucigalpa, he appealed for Honduran security forces
not to 'point their rifles or kill their Honduran brothers.'
Jose Miguel Insulza, secretary-general of the Organization of
American States (OAS), and presidents Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner
of Argentina, Rafael Correa of Ecuador and Fernando Lugo of Paraguay
met with Zelaya in El Salvador, after being prevented from landing in
Honduras. Zelaya vowed to return shortly to Honduras.
The Honduran military seized Zelaya on June 28 and flew him out of
the country. The new civilian leadership rebuffed Zelaya's attempt to
return to Honduras on Sunday by blocking the runway.
The coup has prompted worldwide condemnation. The OAS on Saturday
voted unanimously to suspend Honduran participation.
In Washington, the US government is reviewing whether aid to the
Honduran government should be halted. Some aid has already been
frozen while a review continues, the State Department said.
On Monday, the Honduran de facto government sent a mission to
Washington to provide its side of the story, led by former trade
union leader Felicito Avila.
Micheletti, who was designated by Congress to head the new
government, has claimed there was no coup in Honduras, but merely a
presidential succession.
USA
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