Military to oversee elections

The Guardian today reports:

“Thousands of soldiers have been deployed across Honduras to oversee a controversial election which will cement the overthrow of President Manuel Zelaya. The de facto government has militarised the capital, Tegucigalpa, and other cities to deter pro-Zelaya protests and ensure that Central America's first coup since the end of the cold war prevails. The authorities blanketed media with patriotic footage of army manoeuvres and football matches – Honduras recently qualified for the World Cup – to try to stir passion for what it termed an "electoral fiesta"…. Security forces have suppressed dissent by beating and arresting hundreds of Zelaya supporters in recent weeks, leaving an edgy calm. A state of emergency has been declared for the vote and 5,000 army reservists mobilised.”