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Ousted Honduran President Back Home

By VOA News
24 July 2009

Deposed Honduran President Manuel Zelaya is back home, after crossing the border from Nicaragua in an attempt to reclaim the presidency following his ouster by the Honduran military last month.

Crowds of reporters surrounded the deposed leader earlier Friday as he arrived by jeep earlier at the Nicaraguan border town of Las Manos for the risky return home that could lead to his arrest.

Earlier, security forces on the Honduran side fired tear gas to disperse Zelaya supporters who flocked to the border to support his bid to return and be reinstated.

The clashes happened as the caretaker government of President Roberto Micheletti imposed a curfew along the border in an attempt to block Mr. Zelaya's return. There was no word on injuries.

The ousted president has said he hopes soldiers will stand down when they see their elected leader, but the caretaker government has said Mr. Zelaya risks arrest if he sets foot in Honduras. The Honduran military has also said it will not guarantee the safety of the deposed leader.

Earlier, South American presidents attending a summit in Paraguay issued a call for the unconditional return of Mr. Zelaya. Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, addressing the summit, said Mr. Zelaya's ouster was a step backward that the region cannot tolerate.

Mr. Zelaya was ousted and forced into exile June 28. He attempted to fly into the capital, Tegucigalpa, one week later, but was not allowed to land.

Costa Rican President Oscar Arias has led negotiations involving the ousted and interim governments. The caretaker government's foreign minister, Carlos Lopez, Wednesday rejected new proposals to allow Mr. Zelaya to return and reclaim his office.

The interim government says Mr. Zelaya was ousted because he was illegally trying to change the constitution to extend his term in office. The political deadlock in Honduras has sparked demonstrations on both sides of the divide. At least one person was killed during the protests.

No country has formally recognized the caretaker government, and many nations have been demanding Mr. Zelaya's reinstatement.

Some information for this report was provided by AFP and Reuters.