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Troops arrest Honduran president Troops arrest Honduran president
(30 minutes later)
Honduran President Manuel Zelaya has been arrested by troops ahead of a controversial constitutional referendum. Honduran President Manuel Zelaya has been arrested by troops ahead of a controversial referendum on plans to change the constitution.
Mr Zelaya's secretary said that the president had been taken to an airbase outside the capital, Tegucigalpa. Mr Zelaya's secretary said the president had been taken to an airbase outside the capital, Tegucigalpa.
The move comes days after the president sacked the armed forces chief, who had refused to back the referendum plan.The move comes days after the president sacked the armed forces chief, who had refused to back the referendum plan.
Mr Zelaya, elected for a non-renewable four-year term in January 2006, wants a vote to enable him to seek a new term.Mr Zelaya, elected for a non-renewable four-year term in January 2006, wants a vote to enable him to seek a new term.
A reporter for the Associated Press news agency said he had seen dozens of soldiers surround the president's house on Sunday morning and about 60 police guarding the house.A reporter for the Associated Press news agency said he had seen dozens of soldiers surround the president's house on Sunday morning and about 60 police guarding the house.
'Coup plot'
The referendum, due on Sunday, had been ruled illegal by the Supreme Court and was also opposed by Congress and members of Mr Zelaya's own party.
MANUEL ZELAYA Won the Honduran presidential election for the Liberal Party in November 2005, beating the ruling National Party's 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 Won the Honduran presidential election for the Liberal Party in November 2005, beating the ruling National Party's 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
A decision in Congress last week seemed to have halted plans for the referendum, which had been due to take place on Sunday, after the courts also deemed it unlawful.
The referendum was originally scheduled to take place at the same time as the presidential election in November.
In an interview with Spain's El Pais newspaper published on Sunday, Mr Zelaya - an ally of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez - said a planned coup attempt against 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 - an ally of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez - said a planned coup attempt against 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 Zeleya 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 Zeleya said.
"I'm only still here in office thanks to the United States.""I'm only still here in office thanks to the United States."
Mr Zelaya sacked the head of the army, Gen Romeo Vasquez, late on Wednesday, after the military refused to help organise the referendum.
The president had also accepted the resignation of Defence Minister Edmundo Orellana.
Mr Zelaya's arrest took place an hour before polls were due to open.
Ballot boxes and other voting materials had been distributed throughout the Central American country.
On Thursday, the Honduran Congress had approved plans to investigate whether Mr Zelaya should be declared unfit to rule.
"We have tried to avoid breaching a constitutional order and sidestep a coup," said Congressional President Roberto Micheletti, a member of Mr Zelaya's own Liberal Party.
The political crisis had stoked tensions in Honduras, an impoverished coffee and banana-exporting nation of more than 7 million people.
Earlier, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon had urged restraint, saying: "It is important for [Honduras'] leaders to act with full respect for the rule of law and democratic institutions."