Military

Honduras Talks Collapse Over Zelaya's Return

By VOA News
23 October 2009

Negotiators for ousted Honduran President Manuel Zelaya said Friday the talks to resolve the country's deep political crisis have collapsed.

Mr. Zelaya had set a Thursday midnight deadline for his return to power. He vowed to stop negotiations if the de facto government led by Roberto Micheletti failed to agree.

The interim government says it will present a counter-offer Friday morning. Mr. Micheletti's government has steadfastly opposed Mr. Zelaya's return to office.

Mr. Zelaya was deposed and sent into exile in a June 28 coup, after opponents accused him of trying to illegally change the constitution to extend his term in office.

Since then, interim President Micheletti has faced intense international pressure to restore Mr. Zelaya, who slipped back into Honduras in September and has taken refuge at the Brazilian embassy in Tegucigalpa.

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