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Obama says Honduras coup illegal | Obama says Honduras coup illegal |
(about 4 hours later) | |
US President Barack Obama has described the removal of Honduran President Manuel Zelaya as illegal. | US President Barack Obama has described the removal of Honduran President Manuel Zelaya as illegal. |
His remarks came after left-wing Latin American leaders declared their support for the deposed leader, who was expelled by the military on Sunday. | His remarks came after left-wing Latin American leaders declared their support for the deposed leader, who was expelled by the military on Sunday. |
In Honduras, pro-Zelaya protestors have been demonstrating in the country's capital, Tegucigalpa. | In Honduras, pro-Zelaya protestors have been demonstrating in the country's capital, Tegucigalpa. |
Mr Zelaya's removal followed a power struggle over his plans for constitutional change. | Mr Zelaya's removal followed a power struggle over his plans for constitutional change. |
The BBC's Stephen Gibbs in Tegucigalpa says all day hundreds of pro-Zelaya protesters have been taunting the thousands of soldiers deployed around the presidential residence, accusing them of taking part in a "criminal coup". | The BBC's Stephen Gibbs in Tegucigalpa says all day hundreds of pro-Zelaya protesters have been taunting the thousands of soldiers deployed around the presidential residence, accusing them of taking part in a "criminal coup". |
The ousted president, who was in office since 2006, had wanted to hold a referendum that could have led to an extension of his non-renewable four-year term in office. | The ousted president, who was in office since 2006, had wanted to hold a referendum that could have led to an extension of his non-renewable four-year term in office. |
Expulsion condemned | Expulsion condemned |
Polls for the vote were due to open early on Sunday, but instead troops stormed the presidential palace at dawn, detained Mr Zelaya and flew him to Costa Rica. | Polls for the vote were due to open early on Sunday, but instead troops stormed the presidential palace at dawn, detained Mr Zelaya and flew him to Costa Rica. |
The military, Congress and the Supreme Court in the Central American nation had all opposed Mr Zelaya's referendum. | The military, Congress and the Supreme Court in the Central American nation had all opposed Mr Zelaya's referendum. |
We cannot allow a return to the past, we will not permit it President Hugo Chavez In pictures: President ousted Profile: Manuel Zelaya Q&A: Honduras crisis | We cannot allow a return to the past, we will not permit it President Hugo Chavez In pictures: President ousted Profile: Manuel Zelaya Q&A: Honduras crisis |
Our correspondent says that even though the international community regards the exiled leader as the legitimate leader of the country, any comeback will not be easy. | |
Speaking after a meeting with Colombian President Alvaro Uribe, Mr Obama said Mr Zelaya remained the democratically-elected leader of Honduras. | Speaking after a meeting with Colombian President Alvaro Uribe, Mr Obama said Mr Zelaya remained the democratically-elected leader of Honduras. |
And he said a "terrible precedent" would be set if the coup were not reversed. | And he said a "terrible precedent" would be set if the coup were not reversed. |
Earlier on Monday, speaking in Managua, the capital of Nicaragua, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez spelled out his opposition to the situation in Honduras. | Earlier on Monday, speaking in Managua, the capital of Nicaragua, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez spelled out his opposition to the situation in Honduras. |
"We cannot allow a return to the past. We will not permit it," Mr Chavez said. | "We cannot allow a return to the past. We will not permit it," Mr Chavez said. |
He spoke after talks with Mr Zelaya, President Rafael Correa of Ecuador and Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega. | He spoke after talks with Mr Zelaya, President Rafael Correa of Ecuador and Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega. |
'Voracious elite' | 'Voracious elite' |
After turning up in Costa Rica on Sunday, Mr Zelaya called his ouster a plot "by a very voracious elite, an elite which wants only to keep this country [Honduras] isolated, in an extreme level of poverty". | After turning up in Costa Rica on Sunday, Mr Zelaya called his ouster a plot "by a very voracious elite, an elite which wants only to keep this country [Honduras] isolated, in an extreme level of poverty". |
In Tegucigalpa protestors defied a curfew order between Sunday night and Monday morning, imposed by Mr Micheletti. | In Tegucigalpa protestors defied a curfew order between Sunday night and Monday morning, imposed by Mr Micheletti. |
As Speaker of Congress, Mr Micheletti had been the next in line to the presidency. His swearing-in was greeted with applause in Congress. | As Speaker of Congress, Mr Micheletti had been the next in line to the presidency. His swearing-in was greeted with applause in Congress. |
In a speech, he said that he had not assumed power under the "ignominy" of a coup d'etat. | In a speech, he said that he had not assumed power under the "ignominy" of a coup d'etat. |
The army had complied with the constitution, he said, and he had reached the presidency "as the result of an absolutely legal transition process". | The army had complied with the constitution, he said, and he had reached the presidency "as the result of an absolutely legal transition process". |
Congress said he would serve until 27 January, when Mr Zelaya's term had been due to expire. | Congress said he would serve until 27 January, when Mr Zelaya's term had been due to expire. |
Presidential elections are planned for 29 November and Mr Micheletti promised these would go ahead. | Presidential elections are planned for 29 November and Mr Micheletti promised these would go ahead. |