Micheletti nephew, colonel killed amid high political tensions

AFP - A nephew of de facto leader Roberto Micheletti was killed in a possible political attack, and a colonel was shot dead separately amid high tension in Honduras, authorities said Monday.

Honduras is mired in Central America's worst political crisis in decades, following the June 28 arrest and ouster of President Manuel Zelaya over his plans to change the constitution.

Police found the remains of Enzo Micheletti near Choloma, some 250 kilometers (155 miles) north of the capital on Sunday, along with those of another youth, local justice official Rafael Fletes told AFP.

The 25-year-old, who was the son of the de facto leader's brother, disappeared on Friday, added Fletes, who did not rule out a political motive for the death.

Unidentified attackers meanwhile shot and killed a colonel in the capital Tegucigalpa overnight Sunday, said Orlin Cerrato, a spokesman for the Security Ministry.

Colonel Concepcion Jimenez, who worked for a private company which supplies clothes to the Honduran army, died in hospital after he was shot dead outside his home, Cerrato said.

Crisis negotiations are deadlocked as ousted President Manuel Zelaya remains holed up in the Brazilian embassy, where he has been since his September 21 return.