Monday 2 November 2009

Zelaya warns that deal must be implemented in full

MOSCOW, November 2 (RIA Novosti) - Ousted Honduran President Manuel Zelaya said he will refuse support to the country's reconciliation government if he is not be reinstated ahead of national elections next month, the EFE news agency reported on Monday.

The reconciliation government was agreed to be established during Friday's meeting between representatives of Zeleya and the country's de facto leader, Roberto Micheletti.

"The reconciliation government can only be established if we reach an agreement," Zelaya told EFE in a telephone interview.

"No agreement - no reconciliation government," he added.

According to the deal, the Supreme Court is to decide whether the ousted leader will be reinstated ahead of national elections next month. The issue has been the sticking point between the two sides.

Micheletti says the agreement contains no guarantee that Zelaya will return to power.

Many countries and international bodies had warned they would not recognize the results if the Honduran elections were held under the Micheletti presidency.

Micheletti has argued that Zelaya's removal was a constitutional transfer of power and not a coup.

Zelaya was bundled out of Honduras on June 28 by the military, acting on instructions from the Supreme Court and parliament, over efforts to seek an unconstitutional second presidential term. He was flown to Costa Rica, and his place was taken by Micheletti, the parliamentary speaker.

The ousted president secretly returned to the country on September 21 and took refuge in the Brazilian Embassy.