Honduran congress to decide on Zelaya's reinstatement (2nd Lead)

Oct 30, 2009, 9:56 GMT

   Tegucigalpa - The Organization of American States (OAS) has announced an agreement between Honduran interim president Roberto Micheletti and ousted president Manuel Zelaya to bring an end to the political crisis in Honduras.

According to the Thursday night agreement, parliament will decide whether Zelaya will be reinstated as president, after being authorized to handle the matter by the Supreme Court.

The negotiating parties agreed that parliament would be given no deadline, and could not be pressured to decide in favour of Zelaya's return to power.

OAS Political Affairs Secretary Victor Rico announced the agreement, saying OAS Secretary General Jose Miguel Insulza was satisfied with it.

US Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Thomas Shannon, who helped to negotiate the agreement, said Washington would now recognize the Honduran general elections scheduled for November 29.

Until now, the international community had refused to recognize the elections unless Zelaya was restored to power.

The deal should lead to the formation of a government of national reconciliation, Micheletti said.

Zelaya told Radio Globo and Canal 36 television that he was 'satisfied' with the agreement which was a 'symbol of peace' and might restore calm to Honduras.

The ousted president said the agreement followed a 'very strong initiative' by US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, without giving further details.

Zelaya said his eventual departure from the Brazilian embassy would be decided on in the next few days.

Zelaya has been staying at the embassy since returning secretly to the Central American country on September 21.

He had been sent to exile after being toppled in a June 28 coup as he was seeking to change Honduras' constitution to allow him another term in office.

The international community and the OAS see Zelaya as the legitimate president and have repeatedly demanded his return to office.

   Zelaya had been accused of violating the constitution, treason and abuse of office, and his opponents had been pushing to have him put on trial.