Honduras coup leaders handed ultimatum
Coup leaders in Honduras given three days to restore deposed president Manuel Zelaya
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Wednesday, 01, Jul 2009 02:37
Coup leaders in Honduras have been given three days by the Organisation of American States (OAS) to restore deposed president Manuel Zelaya.
OAS head Jose Miguel Insulza said if the country failed to abide by the demands the group would vote to suspend it.
Mr Zelaya was flown out of the country to Costa Rica on Tuesday, following a military coup which has also seen Honduras's National Congress vote in a new leader, parliamentary speaker Roberto Micheletti.
The coup has been widely criticised across the region, with world leaders calling for Mr Zelaya to be reinstated.
However, interim leaders in Honduras have claimed if he returns he will be arrested on charges of violating the constitution.
Reports suggest he also faces charges of having links to organised crime and drug-trafficking.
It is thought the 56-year-old will attempt to return tomorrow and has claimed if he is eventually reinstated he will not seek a second term.
His desire to extend his time in power sparked last week's coup, with the military objecting to his plans to change the country's constitution.
On Tuesday, the United Nations called on "all states" to reject all governments in Honduras other than Mr Zelaya's.
Protests have broken out across Honduras and there are fears violence will escalate further if the former president does indeed return to power.