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Honduran leaders arrive for talks Honduras rivals at mediated talks
(about 5 hours later)
Ousted Honduran President Manuel Zelaya and interim leader Roberto Micheletti have both arrived in Costa Rica for mediated talks on the political crisis. Ousted Honduran President Manuel Zelaya and interim leader Roberto Micheletti have begun separate talks with a mediator on the crisis in Honduras.
Mr Zelaya says he will demand his immediate return to power during talks, and called Mr Micheletti a "criminal". The two rivals for the presidency arrived separately at the home of Costan Rican President Oscar Arias for the closed-door meetings.
Mr Micheletti said he was not there to negotiate. His aides reportedly said he would not meet his rival face to face. Earlier, Mr Zelaya said he would demand his immediate return to power, and called Mr Micheletti a "criminal".
The BBC's Stephen Gibbs, in Honduras, says Costa Rican President Oscar Arias faces a huge challenge as mediator. For his part, Mr Micheletti had said he has not gone to negotiate.
Both sides have made statements ahead of the meeting showing little willingness to negotiate, our correspondent says. Mr Micheletti had insisted he would not meet Mr Zelaya in person, and initially refused to leave the airport in the Costa Rican capital, San Jose.
But he eventually agreed to go to Mr Arias' residence.
Correspondents say the Costa Rican president faces a huge challenge as mediator - simply getting the two rivals to appear in the same city is some kind of achievement.
Both sides made statements ahead of the meeting showing little willingness to negotiate.
The interim government says it intends to ensure Mr Zelaya returns to Honduras to face trial for abusing the constitution.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 the capital San Jose, Mr Zelaya dismissed Mr Micheletti as a "criminal" and told reporters he expected the leaders of the coup to leave power in 24 hours. But as he arrived in San Jose, Mr Zelaya 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.
Uphill task
Mr Arias, who won the 1987 Nobel Peace Prize, said he 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 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.
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 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 said: "We're not going to negotiate, we're going to talk. We'll work tirelessly to seek a solution within the framework of the constitution."
"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, correspondents say.
On his arrival, he said: "We'll work tirelessly to seek a solution within the framework of the constitution." But they say the interim government would not agree to that, as it argues Mr Zelaya is guilty of violating the constitution.
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.
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 Mr Zelaya's possible re-election.
In Honduras, Mr Zelaya's supporters are stepping up pressure on the government. In Honduras itself, thousands of supporters and opponents of Mr Zelaya held rival demonstrations on Thursday.
They are expected to set up roadblocks on all routes into the capital on Thursday. Supporters of Mr Zelaya cut off several main highways, while Mr Micheletti's backers took to the streets of San Pedro Sula and other towns.
More demonstrations are also expected in the coming days by those who support the new government.