This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/americas/8123126.stm
The article has changed 17 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 14 | Version 15 |
|---|---|
| Honduran leader forced into exile | Honduran leader forced into exile |
| (about 1 hour 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 in a "coup". | 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 2006, had wanted a vote to extend his time in office. | Mr Zelaya, elected for a non-renewable four-year term in 2006, had 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 had also been resistance within Mr Zelaya's own party to the plan for the vote. | There had also been resistance within Mr Zelaya's own party to the plan for the vote. |
| 'Arrested in pyjamas' | 'Arrested in pyjamas' |
| Congress swiftly appointed its speaker Roberto Micheletti - a member of Mr Zelaya's Liberal Party, but an opponent of him - as acting head of state. | Congress swiftly appointed its speaker Roberto Micheletti - a member of Mr Zelaya's Liberal Party, but an opponent of him - as acting head of state. |
| The day's drama began at dawn on Sunday when soldiers stormed the president's residence in the capital, Tegucigalpa, an hour before polls were to open. | The day's drama began at dawn on Sunday when soldiers stormed the president's residence in the capital, Tegucigalpa, an hour before polls were 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 In pictures: President ousted Profile: Manuel Zelaya World reaction: Honduran crisis | This was a plot by a very voracious elite, which wants to keep this country in an extreme level of poverty President Manuel Zelaya In pictures: President ousted Profile: Manuel Zelaya World reaction: Honduran crisis |
| Mr Zelaya was taken to an airbase outside the city and rumours swirled over his whereabouts. | Mr Zelaya was taken to an airbase outside the city and rumours swirled over his whereabouts. |
| The BBC's Stephen Gibbs, in the region, says armoured vehicles were on the streets and troops fired tear gas to disperse the president's supporters outside his home. | The BBC's Stephen Gibbs, in the region, says armoured vehicles were on the streets and troops fired tear gas to disperse the president's supporters outside his home. |
| Several hours later Mr Zelaya turned up in Costa Rica and said troops had "kidnapped" him in his pyjamas. | Several hours later Mr Zelaya turned up in Costa Rica and said troops had "kidnapped" him in his pyjamas. |
| He insisted he was still the rightful president and urged Hondurans to resist those who had removed him. | He insisted he was still the rightful president and urged Hondurans to resist those who had removed him. |
| "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," 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," he said. |
| Later the Honduran Supreme Court said it had ordered the removal of the president, who had been due to leave office next January. | Later the Honduran Supreme Court said it had ordered the removal of the president, who had been due to leave office next January. |
| Then Congress produced what it said was Mr Zelaya's letter of resignation, which it voted to accept. The ousted president dismissed the letter as a fake. | Then Congress produced what it said was Mr Zelaya's letter of resignation, which it voted to accept. The ousted president dismissed the letter as a fake. |
| Chavez military warning | Chavez military warning |
| There was international condemnation of events in Honduras: | There was international condemnation of events in Honduras: |
| MANUEL ZELAYA Took office in Jan 2006; 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 | MANUEL ZELAYA Took office in Jan 2006; 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 |
| • At an emergency meeting in Washington, the Organization of American States said it was a "coup" | • At an emergency meeting in Washington, the Organization of American States said it was a "coup" |
| • Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, blamed "the Yankee empire", and threatened military action should the Venezuelan ambassador to Honduras be attacked; President Evo Morales of Bolivia described Mr Zelaya's removal as "an assault on democracy" | • Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, blamed "the Yankee empire", and threatened military action should the Venezuelan ambassador to Honduras be attacked; President Evo Morales of Bolivia described Mr Zelaya's removal as "an assault on democracy" |
| • The White House denied any involvement; President Barack Obama urged Honduras to "respect the rule of law" and a State Department official said America recognised Mr Zelaya as the duly elected president | |
| • The European Union called for "a swift return to constitutional normality" in Honduras | |
| The military's dramatic move came after President Zelaya sacked the chief of the army, Gen Romeo Vasquez, on Wednesday for refusing to help him organise the referendum. | The military's dramatic move came after President Zelaya sacked the chief of the army, Gen Romeo Vasquez, on Wednesday for refusing to help him organise the referendum. |
| A day later, the Honduran Congress approved plans to investigate whether the president should be declared unfit to rule. | A day later, the Honduran Congress approved plans to investigate whether the president should be declared unfit to rule. |
| 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. | 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. |
| The Central American country - an impoverished coffee and banana-exporting nation of more than 7 million people - has experienced military coups in the past. | The Central American country - 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. |
| You can send your pictures and video to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to +44 7725 100 100. If you have a large file you can upload here. | You can send your pictures and video to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to +44 7725 100 100. If you have a large file you can upload here. |
| Read the terms and conditions | Read the terms and conditions |
| At no time should you endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. | At no time should you endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. |
| The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions | The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions |