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Honduras rivals at mediated talks Honduran rivals at mediated talks
(9 minutes later)
Ousted Honduran President Manuel Zelaya and interim leader Roberto Micheletti have begun separate talks with a mediator on the crisis in Honduras. Ousted Honduran President Manuel Zelaya and interim leader Roberto Micheletti have begun mediated talks on the political crisis in Honduras.
The two rivals for the presidency arrived separately at the home of Costan Rican President Oscar Arias for the closed-door meetings. The two rivals went separately to the home of Costan Rican President Oscar Arias, who is mediating, but did not meet face-to-face.
Earlier, Mr Zelaya said he would demand his immediate return to power, and called Mr Micheletti a "criminal". As he left, Mr Zelaya said that he, as the democratically-elected Honduran president, should be restored to power.
For his part, Mr Micheletti had said he has not gone to negotiate. Mr Micheletti insists Mr Zelaya should give up claims to the presidency.
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. He said he did not go to Costa Rica to negotiate, simply to talk.
But he eventually agreed to go to Mr Arias' residence. Mr Zelaya had earlier described Mr Micheletti as a "criminal".
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. Huge challenge
Both sides made statements ahead of the meeting showing little willingness to negotiate. Before his meetings, President Arias said that once two sides started talking, "positions begin to soften".
But Mr Arias, who won the 1987 Nobel Peace Prize for helping bring an end to Central America's civil wars, said he recognised the size of the current task in Honduras.
"In two days there could be a solution, or it could be that in two months there is no solution," he said.
The talks are scheduled to continue on Friday, but it is not yet clear if the two Honduran protagonists will meet in person or not.
Correspondents say simply getting the rivals to appear in the same city is some kind of achievement.
Both sides made statements ahead of the talks 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 San Jose, Mr Zelaya 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.
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.
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 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."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."
One possible solution is for Mr Zelaya to assume a head of state role without political power, correspondents say.One possible solution is for Mr Zelaya to assume a head of state role without political power, correspondents say.
But they say the interim government would not agree to that, as it argues Mr Zelaya is guilty of violating the constitution.But they say 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 Mr Zelaya's 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 itself, thousands of supporters and opponents of Mr Zelaya held rival demonstrations on Thursday.In Honduras itself, thousands of supporters and opponents of Mr Zelaya held rival demonstrations 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.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.