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New Honduran leader sworn in | New Honduran leader sworn in |
(about 2 hours later) | |
A new president has been sworn into office in Honduras, hours after the ousting of President Manuel Zelaya. | A new president has been sworn into office in Honduras, hours after the ousting of President Manuel Zelaya. |
Congress speaker Roberto Micheletti will serve as interim president until polls are held, Congress said. | Congress speaker Roberto Micheletti will serve as interim president until polls are held, Congress said. |
The removal of Mr Zelaya by the army came amid a power struggle over his plans for constitutional change. | The removal of Mr Zelaya by the army came amid a power struggle over his plans for constitutional change. |
Mr Zelaya, who had been in power since 2006, wanted to hold a referendum that could have led to an extension of his non-renewable four-year term. | Mr Zelaya, who had been in power since 2006, wanted to hold a referendum that could have led to an extension of his non-renewable four-year term. |
Polls for the referendum had been due to open early on Sunday - but troops instead took him from the presidential palace and flew him to Costa Rica. | Polls for the referendum had been due to open early on Sunday - but troops instead took him from the presidential palace and flew him to Costa Rica. |
Roberto Micheletti will govern until elections are held, Congress said. | |
The ousting of Manuel Zelaya has been criticised by regional neighbours, the US and the United Nations. | The ousting of Manuel Zelaya has been criticised by regional neighbours, the US and the United Nations. |
In the Honduran capital, Tegucigalpa, groups of Zelaya supporters were said to have set up barricades, while troops were at key sites. | In the Honduran capital, Tegucigalpa, groups of Zelaya supporters were said to have set up barricades, while troops were at key sites. |
Mr Micheletti told a press conference that a nationwide curfew was being imposed for Sunday and Monday, running from 2100 (0300 GMT) to 0600 (1200 GMT) on each night. | Mr Micheletti told a press conference that a nationwide curfew was being imposed for Sunday and Monday, running from 2100 (0300 GMT) to 0600 (1200 GMT) on each night. |
Days of tension | Days of tension |
The swearing in of Roberto Micheletti - constitutionally second in line for the presidency - was greeted with applause in Congress. | The swearing in of Roberto Micheletti - constitutionally second in line for the presidency - was greeted with applause in Congress. |
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 |
"My slogan will be the reconciliation of the grand family of Hondurans... and a grand national dialogue," he said. | "My slogan will be the reconciliation of the grand family of Hondurans... and a grand national dialogue," he said. |
Congress said he would serve until 27 January, when Mr Zelaya's term was due to expire. Presidential elections are planned for 29 November. | Congress said he would serve until 27 January, when Mr Zelaya's term was due to expire. Presidential elections are planned for 29 November. |
Both Congress and the courts had opposed Mr Zelaya's referendum, which asked Hondurans to endorse a vote on unspecified constitutional changes alongside the November elections. | Both Congress and the courts had opposed Mr Zelaya's referendum, which asked Hondurans to endorse a vote on unspecified constitutional changes alongside the November elections. |
Tensions over the issue had been escalating for several days, with the army refusing to help with preparations for the referendum. | Tensions over the issue had been escalating for several days, with the army refusing to help with preparations for the referendum. |
Just before dawn on Sunday, troops stormed the president's residence. There was confusion over his whereabouts for several hours before he turned up in Costa Rica. | Just before dawn on Sunday, troops stormed the president's residence. There was confusion over his whereabouts for several hours before he turned up in Costa Rica. |
Mr Zelaya urged Hondurans to resist those who had removed him, calling his ouster "a plot by a very voracious elite, an elite which wants only to keep this country isolated, in an extreme level of poverty". | Mr Zelaya urged Hondurans to resist those who had removed him, calling his ouster "a plot by a very voracious elite, an elite which wants only to keep this country isolated, in an extreme level of poverty". |
Troops arrest Honduran president | Troops arrest Honduran president |
But Congress said it had voted to remove him because of his "repeated violations of the constitution and the law and disregard of orders and judgments of the institutions". | But Congress said it had voted to remove him because of his "repeated violations of the constitution and the law and disregard of orders and judgments of the institutions". |
In Tegucigalpa, groups of Zelaya supporters were setting up roadblocks around the presidential palace, Reuters said. | In Tegucigalpa, groups of Zelaya supporters were setting up roadblocks around the presidential palace, Reuters said. |
One man told the BBC that he had been in the city's main square all day, along with 2,000 Zelaya supporters. Jeronimo Pastor described the situation as tense and called on the international community to get involved. | One man told the BBC that he had been in the city's main square all day, along with 2,000 Zelaya supporters. Jeronimo Pastor described the situation as tense and called on the international community to get involved. |
But another resident of the capital said people were relieved at Mr Zelaya's removal. "Now we have a new president and will have elections and things will go back to normal," Kenneth Bustillo told the BBC. | But another resident of the capital said people were relieved at Mr Zelaya's removal. "Now we have a new president and will have elections and things will go back to normal," Kenneth Bustillo told the BBC. |
The removal of Mr Zelaya has drawn criticism across Latin America and the wide world. | The removal of Mr Zelaya has drawn criticism across Latin America and the wide world. |
The Organization of American States held an emergency meeting, while UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon called for "the reinstatement of the democratically elected representatives of the country". | The Organization of American States held an emergency meeting, while UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon called for "the reinstatement of the democratically elected representatives of the country". |
US 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". | US 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". |
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, meanwhile, blamed "the Yankee empire", and threatened military action should the Venezuelan ambassador to Honduras be attacked. | Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, meanwhile, blamed "the Yankee empire", and threatened military action should the Venezuelan ambassador to Honduras be attacked. |