Honduran President Manuel Zelaya said he was the victim of “a coup” and a “brutal kidnapping” by soldiers, and U.S. President Barack Obama said he was “deeply concerned” by the Sunday morning detention of the Central American president.
Speaking from Costa Rica, Mr. Zelaya said he would not recognize any de facto government and pledged to serve out his term, which ends in January.
“A usurper government cannot be recognized, by absolutely anybody,” Mr. Zelaya told a local television station at the airport in San Jose, Costa Rica shortly after arriving to potentially seek political asylum. Mr. Zelaya said he was taken away from the presidential residence early Sunday while he was still in his pyjamas.
“I am deeply concerned by reports coming out of Honduras regarding the detention and expulsion of President Mel Zelaya,” Mr. Obama said in a statement.
“As the Organization of American States did on Friday, I call on all political and social actors in Honduras to respect democratic norms, the rule of law and the tenets of the Inter-American Democratic Charter.”
The statement said that “any existing tensions and disputes must be resolved peacefully through dialogue free from any outside interference.”
[More]
Updates:
1:39 pm EDT, June 28th, 2009 — Venezuala Threatens Attack On Honduras
3:38 pm EDT, June 28th, 2009 — Thousands march in Venezuela over anti-Chavez TV
3:40 pm EDT, June 28th, 2009 — Mid-term elections seen weakening Argentine leader
5:47 pm EDT, June 28th, 2009 — Honduras names new leader after coup
Notes:
I don’t know what’s going on in Central and South America but something is.
This is very simple the army removed an individual who wanted to upsurp the consititution of his country. He was prepared to go against the surpreme court and elected congress. All the army did was protect the country from another Chavez (no wonder he is upset).
Now their police should start digging into all his bank accounts. No doubt in my mind he has been paid off.
Well when you try to ignore the courts you pay the price and all will be looked into. It is nice to see an army stand for what they swore to uphold.