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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 referendum on plans to change the constitution. Troops in Honduras have arrested the president ahead of a referendum on plans to change the constitution.
Mr Zelaya's secretary said the president had been taken to an airbase outside the capital, Tegucigalpa. President Manuel Zelaya's secretary said he 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. 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, wants a vote to enable him to seek a new term. 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.
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.
Two air force fighter jets screamed over the capital, reported Reuters news agency.
'Coup plot''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. The arrest comes after President Zelaya defied a court order that he should re-instate the chief of the army, Gen Romeo Vasquez.
The president sacked Gen Vasquez late on Wednesday for refusing to help him organise a referendum.
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
Mr Zelaya also accepted the resignation of the defence minister.
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.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. Ballot boxes and other voting materials had been distributed by Mr Zelaya's supporters and government employees throughout the Central American country.
On Thursday, the Honduran Congress had approved plans to investigate whether Mr Zelaya should be declared unfit to rule. Rumours swirled in the Honduran media about the president's fate.
"We're talking about a coup d'etat," Rafael Alegria, a union leader and Zelaya ally, told Honduran radio Cadena de Noticias, reports AP. "This is regrettable."
He reportedly said shots had been fired during the president's arrest.
Meanwhile, Honduran radio station HRN said Mr Zelaya had been sent into exile, and possibly flown on the presidential plane to Venezuela.
On Thursday, the Honduran Congress approved plans to investigate whether the president 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."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 Honduras' leaders to "act with full respect for the rule of law and democratic institutions".
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." The political crisis has stoked tensions in Honduras, an impoverished coffee and banana-exporting nation of more than 7 million people.
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