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Stalemate ahead of Honduras talks Stalemate ahead of Honduras talks
(17 minutes later)
Ousted Honduran President Manuel Zelaya says he will demand his immediate return to power during talks aimed at solving his country's crisis.Ousted Honduran President Manuel Zelaya says he will demand his immediate return to power during talks aimed at solving his country's crisis.
He was speaking ahead of the talks, set to begin on Thursday in Costa Rica.He was speaking ahead of the talks, set to begin on Thursday in Costa Rica.
The interim government, which is also taking part, says it intends to ensure Mr Zelaya returns to Honduras to face trial for abusing the constitution. Mr Zelaya is already in the capital, San Jose, and Roberto Micheletti, the interim president of Honduras, is reported to be arriving later.
The BBC's Stephen Gibbs, in Honduras, says Costa Rican President Oscar Arias faces a huge challenge as mediator.
Both sides have made statements ahead of the meeting showing little willingness to negotiate, our correspondent says.
The interim government says it intends to ensure Mr Zelaya returns to Honduras to face trial for abusing the constitution.
But as he arrived in Costa Rica, Mr Zelaya dismissed Mr Micheletti as a "criminal" and told reporters he expected the leaders of the coup to leave power in 24 hours.
The exiled president has the backing of world leaders, including US President Barack Obama.The exiled president has the backing of world leaders, including US President Barack Obama.
Judging by the comments in advance of the meeting, Costa Rican President Oscar Arias has an almost insurmountable challenge ahead of him as mediator, says the BBC's Stephen Gibbs in Honduras. Uphill task
Mr Arias, who will host the two-day meeting, recognised the scale of the task. Mr Arias, who won the 1987 Nobel Peace Prize, said he recognised the scale of the task.
"In two days there could be a solution, or it could be that in two months there is no solution," he said."In two days there could be a solution, or it could be that in two months there is no solution," he said.
The Costa Rican leader, who won the 1987 Nobel Peace Prize, also made an effort to sound positive. The Costa Rican leader also made an effort to sound positive.
"It seems to me that there is willingness on both sides to seek a negotiated settlement through diplomacy, through dialogue," he said."It seems to me that there is willingness on both sides to seek a negotiated settlement through diplomacy, through dialogue," he said.
More protests
But remarks by both Mr Zelaya and Roberto Micheletti, the interim president of Honduras, indicated little willingness to negotiate.
CRISIS TIMELINE President Zelaya planned non-binding public consultation on constitutional changeCritics say he wanted to stay in power28 June: Troops seize and expel Zelaya; parliamentary speaker becomes interim leader29 June: US President Obama condemns the overthrow as illegal4 July: Organization of American States suspends Honduras in protest at overthrow5 July: Mr Zelaya's jet is turned back from Honduras and clashes with troops leave at least one person dead9 July: Two sides to attend mediated by Costa Rican President Oscar AriasCRISIS TIMELINE President Zelaya planned non-binding public consultation on constitutional changeCritics say he wanted to stay in power28 June: Troops seize and expel Zelaya; parliamentary speaker becomes interim leader29 June: US President Obama condemns the overthrow as illegal4 July: Organization of American States suspends Honduras in protest at overthrow5 July: Mr Zelaya's jet is turned back from Honduras and clashes with troops leave at least one person dead9 July: Two sides to attend mediated by Costa Rican President Oscar Arias
Mr Zelaya says he has to resume the presidency. On arrival in Costa Rica, he told reporters he expected the leaders of the coup against him to leave power in 24 hours. Mr Micheletti, who was sworn in just hours after Mr Zelaya was kicked out of Honduras, at first indicated he might not attend the talks, before later confirming he would attend.
Mr Micheletti, who was sworn in just hours after Mr Zelaya was kicked out of Honduras, cast doubt over the talks by indicating he might not attend, before later confirming his presence.
"We're not going to negotiate, we're going to talk," he said."We're not going to negotiate, we're going to talk," he said.
One possible solution is for Mr Zelaya to assume a head of state role without political power, our correspondent says.One possible solution is for Mr Zelaya to assume a head of state role without political power, our correspondent says.
But it would appear that the interim government would not agree to that, as it argues Mr Zelaya is guilty of violating the constitution.But it would appear that the interim government would not agree to that, as it argues Mr Zelaya is guilty of violating the constitution.
Mr Zelaya was ousted and forced out of Honduras at gunpoint on 28 June. An attempt to fly back to Honduras failed last weekend when the authorities there blocked the runway at Tegucigalpa airport.Mr Zelaya was ousted and forced out of Honduras at gunpoint on 28 June. An attempt to fly back to Honduras failed last weekend when the authorities there blocked the runway at Tegucigalpa airport.
The political crisis erupted after Mr Zelaya attempted to hold a non-binding public consultation to ask people whether they supported moves to change the constitution.The political crisis erupted after Mr Zelaya attempted to hold a non-binding public consultation to ask people whether they supported moves to change the constitution.
Opponents said that could have led to the removal of the current one-term limit on serving as president and so pave the way for his possible re-election.Opponents said that could have led to the removal of the current one-term limit on serving as president and so pave the way for his possible re-election.
In Honduras, Mr Zelaya's supporters are stepping up pressure on the government.In Honduras, Mr Zelaya's supporters are stepping up pressure on the government.
They are expected to set up roadblocks on all routes into the capital on Thursday.They are expected to set up roadblocks on all routes into the capital on Thursday.
More demonstrations are also expected in the coming days by those who support the new government.More demonstrations are also expected in the coming days by those who support the new government.