OAS threatens to expel Honduras if coup not rescinded (Roundup)

Jul 1, 2009, 6:36 GMT

   Washington - The Organization of American States (OAS) on Wednesday ordered Honduras to reinstate ousted President Manuel Zelaya within 72 hours or be expelled from the bloc.

   Zelaya was arrested and exiled to Costa Rica Sunday in a coup ordered by the country's Supreme Court, reportedly to stop him from attempting to change the constitution and seek a second term.

   OAS secretary-general Jose Miguel Insulza said Wednesday the bloc would seek a vote to suspend Honduras if the newly installed government of Roberto Micheletti refuses to reinstate Zelaya. A two-thirds majority is needed to suspend a country from the inter-American body.

   The OAS convened an extraordinary session of the bloc's general assembly Tuesday to deal with the Honduran constitutional crisis. Insulza said the organization headquartered in Washington would seek an expulsion vote on July 4, although it is a US national holiday.

   The OAS and the US administration of President Barack Obama both said they would reject a delegation from the newly installed Honduran government.

   Albert Ramdin, OAS assistant secretary general, said the bloc would not receive a delegation reportedly headed to Washington to seek recognition Wednesday.

   'OAS member states have said very clearly that they don't recognize anybody other than President Zelaya as the constitutional president of Honduras,' Ramdin said.

   Micheletti, a former speaker of the Honduran Congress, was named to lead the post-coup government and threatened Tuesday to have Zelaya arrested if he followed through on plans to return to the country Thursday.

   A senior US administration official told the German Press Agency