Talks to resolve the political crisis in Honduras have collapsed over the de facto government’s refusal to reinstate ousted president Manuel Zelaya.
Zelaya late on Friday had rejected a proposal that de facto leader Roberto Micheletti would step down if Zelaya gave up his claim to the presidency, after his envoys already said the talks were dead.
Zelaya’s negotiators accused the regime of dragging out the talks in the run-up to Nov. 29, when an election is to be held to choose a new president.
“We consider that 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 people inside have reported growing pressure, including loud music and animal grunts being blared in this week.
Envoys for Micheletti said on Friday that they were open to more talks, but remained firm on their position that Zelaya could not return to office.
“We’ll accept for Roberto Micheletti to withdraw from the presidency if Mr Jose Manuel Zelaya gives up his claims to the presidency, giving way to a transition government of national reconciliation,” negotiator Vilma Morales told a news conference.
Shortly afterwards, Zelaya said that he rejected the proposal.
“It would be unseemly, indecent for the Honduran people if I was to negotiate on the position which they elected me to,” Zelaya said.
Zelaya earlier called for help from the international community, which has widely condemned the coup.
“I’m waiting for calls from the United States, specifically the OAS [Organization of American States], the United Nations and some contacts ... especially countries in Central America,” Zelaya told Radio Globo.
But an OAS representative in Tegucigalpa, John Biehl, said he did not believe that a break-up in negotiations was definitive.
“We consider this suspension just a break,” Biehl told reporters. “We are certain that Hondurans will soon return to dialogue and reach an accord.”
The US, the country’s main backer with a history of military intervention in the region, called on both sides to urgently reach a deal.
“I think that there is a real need for the two sides to — to reach an agreement, and then implement it expeditiously,” US State Department spokesman Ian Kelly said.
Washington has suspended millions of dollars of aid to Honduras. It has also restricted visas to top members of the regime.
The de facto leaders appeared intent on pushing ahead with next month’s election, although regional governments warn they will not recognize the result and international bodies have said they will not help with monitoring.
“There need to be certain mechanisms put in place in advance of these elections,” Kelly said on Friday.
The main sticking point in crisis talks has been whether Zelaya can resume power before the election.
Zelaya’s envoys 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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