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Zelaya 'to return if talks fail' | |
(about 5 hours later) | |
Ousted Honduran leader Manuel Zelaya has said he will return to the country whether or not a deal is reached to end the political crisis. | |
Mr Zelaya's wife said midnight on Saturday was the deadline for a deal to be reached at talks in Costa Rica between the country's political rivals. | |
Earlier, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez had said Mr Zelaya was due to return home "in the coming hours". | |
The interim government has vowed to arrest Mr Zelaya if he does go back. | |
They prevented Mr Zelaya's earlier attempted homecoming on 5 July. | |
Representatives of Mr Zelaya and the interim government that was appointed after he was ousted in a coup last month are preparing to meet for a fresh round of talks in Costa Rica, mediated by Costa Rican President Oscar Arias. | |
Mr Zelaya's wife, Xiomara Castro, said that midnight on Saturday was "the deadline" for an agreement on the country's future to be reached. | |
"Time runs out tomorrow," she said. | |
She added that the conditions were right for her husband's return and the talks "can't continue for three or four months". | |
"He has to come back to the country. He has to come publicly. He is not a criminal and does not need to be hiding," she said. | |
"All the diplomatic avenues are nearly exhausted. We hope there is a decision tomorrow." | |
'Support talks' | |
On Friday, Mr Chavez said Mr Zelaya was returning to Honduras "in the next few hours". | |
"Zelaya will enter Honduras. Let's see what the gorillas will do," he said, referring to the coup leaders. | |
Mr Chavez was speaking in La Paz, following talks with Bolivian President Evo Morales, Ecuador's Rafael Correa and Paraguay's Fernando Lugo. | |
But journalists in Nicaragua, where Mr Zelaya has been staying, said he was still in the capital, Managua, and there was no indication that he was leaving. | |
The US has called on Honduras' regional neighbours to support the Costa Rica talks. | |
"No country in the region should encourage any action that would potentially increase the risk of violence either in Honduras or in surrounding countries," said State Department spokesman P J Crowley. | "No country in the region should encourage any action that would potentially increase the risk of violence either in Honduras or in surrounding countries," said State Department spokesman P J Crowley. |
'Final battle' | 'Final battle' |
Supporters of Mr Zelaya have blocked roads in the capital | Supporters of Mr Zelaya have blocked roads in the capital |
Mr Zelaya told Venezuelan television on Thursday that he was getting ready to return to his country from neighbouring Nicaragua. | Mr Zelaya told Venezuelan television on Thursday that he was getting ready to return to his country from neighbouring Nicaragua. |
"I am preparing various alternatives: by air, by land, and others," he told Venezuelan television. | "I am preparing various alternatives: by air, by land, and others," he told Venezuelan television. |
The foreign minister in the deposed government, Patricia Rodas, said Mr Zelaya was returning to wage a "final battle" against those who ousted him. | The foreign minister in the deposed government, Patricia Rodas, said Mr Zelaya was returning to wage a "final battle" against those who ousted him. |
On Friday, thousands of Zelaya supporters blocked key Honduran roads for a second day, in preparation for his possible return. | On Friday, thousands of Zelaya supporters blocked key Honduran roads for a second day, in preparation for his possible return. |
Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega said the interim government had deployed forces on the border with his country. | Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega said the interim government had deployed forces on the border with his country. |
"I don't know why they are so terrorised by President Zelaya that they have put tanks and cannons, artillery, mortars, anti-aircraft guns to shoot President Zelaya down if he tries to enter by plane," he said. | "I don't know why they are so terrorised by President Zelaya that they have put tanks and cannons, artillery, mortars, anti-aircraft guns to shoot President Zelaya down if he tries to enter by plane," he said. |
Interim Honduran President Roberto Micheletti took over at the head of a military-backed government after Mr Zelaya was bundled out of the country on 28 June. | Interim Honduran President Roberto Micheletti took over at the head of a military-backed government after Mr Zelaya was bundled out of the country on 28 June. |
Mr Zelaya was forced out amid a dispute with the country's Congress and the courts over his plans to hold a non-binding public consultation to ask people whether they supported moves to change the constitution. | Mr Zelaya was forced out amid a dispute with the country's Congress and the courts over his plans to hold a non-binding public consultation to ask people whether they supported moves to change the constitution. |
Mr Zelaya's critics said the move was aimed at removing the current one-term limit on serving as president, so paving the way for his possible re-election. | Mr Zelaya's critics said the move was aimed at removing the current one-term limit on serving as president, so paving the way for his possible re-election. |