Asia-Pacific
US envoy meets Zelaya in Honduras in mediation efforts
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2010-01-06 15:36
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TEGUCIGALPA: A top US envoy met Tuesday with ousted President Manuel Zelaya in an effort to end an ongoing political crisis in the bitterly divided country.
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Kelly has repeatedly visited the country in recent months in an effort to find a peaceful solution to the political deadlock that developed when Zelaya was deposed in a military coup in June.
The interim government led by Roberto Micheletti, who took power after Zelaya was ousted, has said Zelaya would be arrested on various charges if he leaves the embassy under any terms other than an asylum arrangement outside Honduras.
"The United States is interested in having Micheletti leave the post as soon as possible," Zelaya told local Radio Globo station following his meeting with Kelly.
"Washington recognizes that I am president of Honduras," said Zelaya, whose term expires Jan 27.
Zelaya said the US government was seeking international recognition of the government of Porfirio Lobo, who won Honduras' November 29 presidential election, after Zelaya's term ends.
Kelly was also scheduled to meet with Micheletti and Lobo on Wednesday.
Micheletti supporters say the coup was triggered by Zelaya's refusal to obey court rulings against his plan to hold a referendum on changing the constitution. Zelaya says he was illegally removed from office by his opponents.
