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Troops detain Honduran president Troops detain Honduran president
(about 1 hour later)
Troops in Honduras have detained the president ahead of a referendum on plans to change the constitution.Troops in Honduras have detained the president ahead of a referendum on plans to change the constitution.
President Manuel Zelaya's secretary said he had been taken to an airbase outside the capital, Tegucigalpa. President Manuel Zelaya was flown to Costa Rica from an air force base outside the capital, Tegucigalpa.
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.
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 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.
Reuters news agency reports that soldiers fired teargas at about 500 supporters of Mr Zelaya who had gathered outside the presidential palace, as air force jets flew over the capital. Reuters news agency reports that police fired teargas at about 500 supporters of Mr Zelaya who had gathered outside the presidential palace.
'Coup plot' 'Traitors'
Early on Sunday, a reporter for the Associated Press news agency said he had seen dozens of troops surround Mr Zelaya's residence. 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.
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 profession 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 profession
The arrest comes after President Zelaya defied a court order that he should re-instate the chief of the army, Gen Romeo Vasquez. Early on Sunday, an AP reporter said he had seen dozens of troops surround Mr Zelaya's residence.
The president sacked Gen Vasquez late on Wednesday for refusing to help him organise a referendum. In other developments:
• At an emergency meeting in Washington, the Organization of American States condemned what it called a "coup" in Honduras; the EU called on the Honduran army to free the president
• Mr Zelaya's ally, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, blamed "the Yankee empire" for what had happened
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.
The president sacked Gen Vasquez late on Wednesday for refusing to help him organise the referendum.
Mr Zelaya, who under current regulations leaves office next January, also accepted the resignation of the defence minister.Mr Zelaya, who under current regulations leaves office next January, also accepted the resignation of the defence minister.
'US opposed coup'
The referendum was to ask the population if they approved of a formal vote next November on whether to rewrite the Honduran constitution.The referendum was to ask the population if they approved of a formal vote next November on whether to rewrite the Honduran constitution.
On Thursday, 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 planned coup 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 said a planned coup 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."
The arrest of Mr Zelaya took place an hour before polls were due to open.The arrest of Mr Zelaya took place an hour before polls were due to open.
Chavez condemnation
Ballot boxes and other voting materials had been distributed by Mr Zelaya's supporters and government employees 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.
Mr Zelaya's ally, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, reportedly denounced the arrest as a "coup d'etat", urging US President Barack Obama to speak out. 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.
Mr Chavez said "the Yankee empire has a lot to do" with developments in Honduras, according to AFP news agency. Honduras - an impoverished coffee and banana-exporting nation of more than 7 million people - has a history of military coups.
The European Union called on the Honduran military to release the president and restore constitutional order, AFP also reported. Soldiers overthrew elected presidents in 1963 and again in 1975; the military did not turn the government over to civilians until 1981.
Rumours swirled in the Honduran media about the president's fate.
Rafael Alegria, a union leader and Zelaya ally, told Honduran radio Cadena de Noticias, 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.
Earlier, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon had urged Honduras' leaders to "act with full respect for the rule of law and democratic institutions".
The president had vowed to transform democracy in Honduras, saying the system currently favours the wealthy elite.
But his opponents accused him of seeking to rule indefinitely.
The political crisis has stoked tensions in Honduras, an impoverished coffee and banana-exporting nation of more than 7 million people.
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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