23 October 2009 - 19H04  

Crisis talks collapse in Honduras
Deposed Honduran President Manuel Zelaya gestures at the Brazilian embassy in Tegucigalpa on October 22. Talks to resolve the political crisis in Honduras collapsed Friday over the de facto government's refusal to reinstate Zelaya.
Deposed Honduran President Manuel Zelaya gestures at the Brazilian embassy in Tegucigalpa on October 22. Talks to resolve the political crisis in Honduras collapsed Friday over the de facto government's refusal to reinstate Zelaya.
Supporters of Honduran deposed President Manuel Zelaya raise their fists in front of policemen during a roadblock in Torocagua, a neighbourhood of Comayaguela, in the north of Tegucigalpa on October 22. Talks to resolve the political crisis in Honduras collapsed Friday over the de facto government's refusal to reinstate Zelaya.
Supporters of Honduran deposed President Manuel Zelaya raise their fists in front of policemen during a roadblock in Torocagua, a neighbourhood of Comayaguela, in the north of Tegucigalpa on October 22. Talks to resolve the political crisis in Honduras collapsed Friday over the de facto government's refusal to reinstate Zelaya.
The representantives of Honduran de facto regime of Roberto Micheletti, Arturo Corrales (L), Vilma Morales (C) and Armando Aguilar (R) speaks in a press conference on October 22 in Tegucigalpa. Talks to resolve the political crisis in Honduras collapsed Friday over the de facto government's refusal to reinstate Zelaya.
The representantives of Honduran de facto regime of Roberto Micheletti, Arturo Corrales (L), Vilma Morales (C) and Armando Aguilar (R) speaks in a press conference on October 22 in Tegucigalpa. Talks to resolve the political crisis in Honduras collapsed Friday over the de facto government's refusal to reinstate Zelaya.

AFP - Talks to resolve the political crisis in Honduras collapsed Friday over the de facto government's refusal to reinstate the ousted president, Manuel Zelaya.

Envoys for Zelaya accused the de facto leaders of dragging out dialogue in the run-up to November 29, when an election is due to choose a new president.

"We consider the dialogue has been exhausted, we cannot continue to give deadlines," said Mayra Mejia, a member of Zelaya's negotiating team.

Central America's worst political crisis in decades was set off by the June 28 arrest and ouster of Zelaya over his plans to change the constitution, which had upset the country's courts, Congress and business leaders.

Since his surprise return one month ago, the former rancher has been holed up in the Brazilian embassy, where occupants have reported growing pressure, including loud music and animal grunts being blared in this week.

Envoys for de facto leader Roberto Micheletti said they did not recognize the latest deadline from their rivals and would present a new proposal on Friday.

"We ask our partners in the dialogue to put aside political games," said Micheletti envoy Vilma Morales.

Zelaya meanwhile said he would tell the international community of the breakdown in the latest negotiations, which had been going on for 16 days.

"I'm waiting for calls from the United States, specifically the OAS (Organization of American States), the United Nations, and some contacts that I also have to make with countries waiting on what's happening here, especially countries in Central America," Zelaya told Radio Globo.

No country in the Americas has recognized Honduras's new authorities, who have suffered punitive reactions from the United States and Brazil in the form of US aid suspension and visa restrictions.

The Micheletti regime has indicated it plans to go ahead with the November election, although regional governments, including the United States, have warned they will not recognize the result and international bodies have said they will not help with monitoring.

The main sticking point in the negotiations on the crisis which has further polarized the impoverished nation has been Zelaya's insistence that he be allowed to resume power before the November election.

Zelaya's team this week rejected as "insulting" a proposal from Micheletti's team that the Supreme Court -- which accused Zelaya of 18 crimes ahead of the coup -- should rule on the issue.

Zelaya's term runs out in January.

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