Honduran leader rejects deposed president's reinstatement ultimatum

Oct 23, 2009, 5:36 GMT

   Buenos Aires/Tegucigalpa, Honduras - Interim Honduran President Roberto Micheletti, who came to power after a coup in June, has rejected an ultimatum from deposed president Manuel Zelaya demanding his reinstatement.

   Zelaya, who was deposed on June 28 and thrown out of the country, on Thursday gave the government an ultimatum of midnight (0600 GMT Friday) to agree to reinstate him as president or he would break off talks about ending the country's political crisis.

   Zelaya was negotiating from the Brazilian embassy in Tegucigalpa, where he has stayed since he managed to slip back into the country on September 21.

   Micheletti's supporters said they would respond with a counterproposal Friday but there were no immediate details of its content.

   Last week, Zelaya rejected the idea of allowing the country's highest court or Congress to decide on his return to office.

   Delegations from both sides had agreed on most questions and were ready to accept most of Costa Rican President and mediator Oscar Arias' plan.

   His proposal would lead to the formation of a government of national reconciliation including all parties and would see elections held in November as planned. But the problem of who should lead the country in the interim period has not been resolved.

   The international community sees Zelaya as the only legitimate president of the country and has demanded his reinstatement.

   Micheletti, however, made it clear that Zelaya's return to office was out of the question. He accused Zelaya of violating the constitution, treason and abuse of office and wants him to stand trial.