US condemns violence amid fresh protests in Honduras (Roundup)

Jul 6, 2009, 22:41 GMT

Washington/Tegucigalpa - The United States on Monday criticized the use of force against protestors in Honduras and reiterated calls for the lawful restoration of ousted President Manuel Zelaya.

'We deplore the use of force against demonstrators in Tegucigalpa in recent days,' US State Department spokesman Ian Kelly said. 'We once again call upon the de facto regime and all actors in Honduras to refrain from all acts of violence.'

Zelaya was due to arrive overnight in Washington for talks on Tuesday with US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

Meanwhile, the Honduran public prosecutor's office launched an investigation into the deaths of two people during a demonstration on Sunday by protestors demanding Zelaya's return. Fresh protests were being planned Monday in the Honduran capital Tegucigalpa by Zelaya supporters, as well as backers of the post-coup government led by former Congress speaker Roberto Micheletti.

The Micheletti government was severely criticized for media censorship, as international television channels and radio stations were cut off when they broadcast comments by Zelaya or others opposing the coup.

The streets of Tegucigalpa were deserted Monday as Honduran authorities extended a curfew, schools and universities suspended classes, shops were shuttered and public buildings were closed.

'The people are going to keep fighting in the streets because that is a right that the constitution grants them,' one Zelaya supporter said.

When Zelaya arrived Sunday in El Salvador, after a failed attempt to return to Tegucigalpa, he appealed for Honduran security forces not to 'point their rifles or kill their Honduran brothers.'

Jose Miguel Insulza, secretary-general of the Organization of American States (OAS), and presidents Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner of Argentina, Rafael Correa of Ecuador and Fernando Lugo of Paraguay met with Zelaya in El Salvador, after being prevented from landing in Honduras. Zelaya vowed to return shortly to Honduras.

The Honduran military seized Zelaya on June 28 and flew him out of the country. The new civilian leadership rebuffed Zelaya's attempt to return to Honduras on Sunday by blocking the runway.

The coup has prompted worldwide condemnation. The OAS on Saturday voted unanimously to suspend Honduran participation.

In Washington, the US government is reviewing whether aid to the Honduran government should be halted. Some aid has already been frozen while a review continues, the State Department said.

On Monday, the Honduran de facto government sent a mission to Washington to provide its side of the story, led by former trade union leader Felicito Avila.

Micheletti, who was designated by Congress to head the new government, has claimed there was no coup in Honduras, but merely a presidential succession.