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Honduran leader forced into exile Honduran leader forced into exile
(40 minutes later)
Troops in Honduras have ousted the president and flown him out of the country after a power struggle over plans to change the constitution.Troops in Honduras have ousted the president and flown him out of the country after a power struggle over plans to change the constitution.
After arriving in Costa Rica, deposed President Manuel Zelaya said he had been kidnapped by soldiers. After arriving in Costa Rica, deposed President Manuel Zelaya said he had been kidnapped by soldiers in a "coup".
Mr Zelaya, elected for a non-renewable four-year term in January 2006, wanted a vote to extend his time in office.Mr Zelaya, elected for a non-renewable four-year term in January 2006, wanted a vote to extend his time in office.
His arrest came just before the start of a referendum ruled illegal by the Supreme Court and opposed by Congress.His arrest came just before the start of a referendum ruled illegal by the Supreme Court and opposed by Congress.
There was also resistance within Mr Zelaya's own party to the plan to hold the vote.There was also resistance within Mr Zelaya's own party to the plan to hold the vote.
Reuters news agency reports that police fired teargas at about 500 supporters of Mr Zelaya who had gathered outside the presidential palace.
'Arrested in pyjamas''Arrested in pyjamas'
Protesters reportedly hurled rocks at the soldiers, shouting "Traitors", AP news agency reports, as tanks rolled through the streets and air force jets flew over the capital. Soldiers stormed the president's residence in the capital, Tegucigalpa, before dawn on Sunday, an hour before polls had been due to open.
This was a plot by a very voracious elite, which wants to keep this country in an extreme level of poverty President Manuel Zelaya This was a plot by a very voracious elite, which wants to keep this country in an extreme level of poverty President Manuel Zelaya class="" href="/2/hi/in_pictures/8123314.stm">In pictures: President ousted class="" href="/2/hi/americas/8123134.stm">Profile: Manuel Zelaya
Early on Sunday, witnesses saw dozens of troops surround Mr Zelaya's residence. Mr Zelaya was taken to an airbase outside the city and rumours swirled over his whereabouts, as his supporters confronted security forces outside the president's home.
In other developments: Several hours later Mr Zelaya turned up in Costa Rica, where he said troops had arrested him in his pyjamas. He urged Hondurans to resist those who had removed him.
• At an emergency meeting in Washington, the Organization of American States condemned what it called a "coup" in Honduras
• Mr Zelaya's ally, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, blamed "the Yankee empire", and threatened military action in the event that the Venezuelan ambassador to Honduras was attacked, reported Reuters
• The White House denied any involvement, US President Barack Obama urged Honduras to "respect the rule of law" and the EU condemned Mr Zelaya's arrest
• The Honduran Supreme Court said it had ordered the removal of the president
• Honduran MPs were to vote on Sunday to name Congress President Roberto Micheletti, a member of Mr Zelaya's own party but an opponent of the deposed leader, a senior opposition deputy told Reuters
From Costa Rica, Mr Zelaya told Venezuelan TV that Honduran soldiers had arrested him in his pyjamas.
"I've been the victim of a kidnapping by a group of Honduran soldiers," he said."I've been the victim of a kidnapping by a group of Honduran soldiers," he said.
"This was a plot by a very voracious elite, an elite which wants only to keep this country isolated, in an extreme level of poverty.""This was a plot by a very voracious elite, an elite which wants only to keep this country isolated, in an extreme level of poverty."
The military's dramatic move came after President Zelaya defied a court order that he should re-instate the chief of the army, Gen Romeo Vasquez. Later the Honduran Supreme Court said it had ordered the removal of the president, who had been due to leave office next January.
The president sacked Gen Vasquez late on Wednesday for refusing to help him organise the referendum. Honduran MPs are expected to appoint as acting head of state Congress President Roberto Micheletti, a member of Mr Zelaya's own party but an opponent of the deposed leader, reported Reuters news agency.
Mr Zelaya, who under current regulations leaves office next January, also accepted the resignation of the defence minister. Chavez military warning
'US opposed coup' There was international condemnation of events in Honduras:
The referendum was to ask the population if they approved of a formal vote next November on whether to rewrite the Honduran constitution. • At an emergency meeting in Washington, the Organization of American States condemned it as a "coup"
• Mr Zelaya's ally, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, blamed "the Yankee empire", and threatened military action in the event that the Venezuelan ambassador to Honduras was attacked
• The White House denied any involvement, US President Barack Obama urged Honduras to "respect the rule of law" and the EU condemned Mr Zelaya's arrest
MANUEL ZELAYA Elected for Liberal Party in Nov 2005; beat ruling National Party candidateHas moved Honduras away from its traditional ally the USEnjoys the support of Venezuela's leftist President, Hugo ChavezA civil engineer and rancher by professionMANUEL ZELAYA Elected for Liberal Party in Nov 2005; beat ruling National Party candidateHas moved Honduras away from its traditional ally the USEnjoys the support of Venezuela's leftist President, Hugo ChavezA civil engineer and rancher by profession
On Thursday, the Honduran Congress approved plans to investigate whether the president should be declared unfit to rule. The military's dramatic move came after President Zelaya defied a court order that he should re-instate the chief of the army, Gen Romeo Vasquez.
In an interview with Spain's El Pais newspaper published on Sunday, Mr Zelaya said a planned coup against him had been thwarted after the US refused to back it. The president sacked Gen Vasquez late on Wednesday for refusing to help him organise the referendum and accepted the defence minister's resignation.
A day later, the Honduran Congress approved plans to investigate whether the president should be declared unfit to rule.
The planned referendum was to ask the population if they approved of a formal vote next November on whether to rewrite the Honduran constitution.
Ballot boxes had been distributed by Mr Zelaya's supporters and government employees throughout the Central American nation.
In an interview with Spain's El Pais newspaper published on Sunday, Mr Zelaya said a plot to topple him had been thwarted after the US refused to back it.
"Everything was in place for the coup and if the US embassy had approved it, it would have happened. But they did not," Mr Zelaya said."Everything was in place for the coup and if the US embassy had approved it, it would have happened. But they did not," Mr Zelaya said.
The arrest of Mr Zelaya took place an hour before polls were due to open.
Ballot boxes and other voting materials had been distributed by Mr Zelaya's supporters and government employees throughout the Central American country.
The president has vowed to transform Honduras, saying the system currently favours the wealthy elite. But his opponents accused him of seeking to rule indefinitely.
Honduras - an impoverished coffee and banana-exporting nation of more than 7 million people - has experienced military coups in the past.Honduras - an impoverished coffee and banana-exporting nation of more than 7 million people - has experienced military coups in the past.
Soldiers overthrew elected presidents in 1963 and again in 1975; the military did not turn the government over to civilians until 1981.Soldiers overthrew elected presidents in 1963 and again in 1975; the military did not turn the government over to civilians until 1981.
Are you in Honduras? Have you seen evidence of military movement in your area? Let us know what is happening near you.Are you in Honduras? Have you seen evidence of military movement in your area? Let us know what is happening near you.
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