Ousted Honduran leader attacks new administration ahead of talks

Jul 9, 2009, 5:08 GMT

   San Jose, Costa Rica - Deposed Honduran president Manuel Zelaya called his designated successor, Roberto Micheletti, a 'gorilla putschist' ahead of talks between the two men Thursday in Costa Rica.

   'He is a criminal who has beaten down our people and the rights of our democracy,' Zelaya said Wednesday night upon his arrival in Costa Rica.

   Zelaya, whose ouster in a June 28 military coup was condemned by the international community, stressed that he had not come to San Jose for negotiations on his reinstatement as president.

   'I want to clarify that our presence here is not due to any negotiation,' he said. 'It's as if you are invited to negotiate with a criminal who violated your family.'

   The task ahead of the talks' mediator, Costa Rican President and Nobel Peace Prize winner Oscar Arias, was expected to be difficult after both Zelaya and Micheletti said some of their competing demands are non-negotiable: For Micheletti, the man designated to head the Honduran government after the coup, Zelaya's return as president is not on the table, but for Zelaya, his reinstatement is a given.

   He demanded Wednesday night that the interim administration in Honduras submit the requirements for its exit within 24 hours.

   'It would be monstrous lunacy for all democracies in America not to advocate the return of the elected president of the Honduran people,' he said.

   But Micheletti, whose government has not been internationally recognized, has said Zelaya's return to Honduras was off the table 'unless it is to turn himself in to justice officials.' The former speaker of the Congress has repeatedly said that Zelaya would be arrested as soon as he sets foot in Honduran territory.

   Zelaya is being charged with treason, abuse of authority and corruption.

   He provoked anger with his calls for changes to the constitution that would have allowed him to seek a second term, a move critics saw as a power grab. His supporters, however, have been equally outspoken in support of Zelaya since his ouster, taking to the streets to protest.