US sees Honduran elections as "critical step" to restore legitimacy

Nov 27, 2009, 21:44 GMT

Washington - The United States views Sunday's controversial elections in Honduras as a 'critical step' towards restoring democratic order in the country, but other measures will be needed to give a new government legitimacy, the State Department said.

Though ousted Honduran President Manuel Zelaya has urged a boycott, US State Department spokesman Ian Kelly said Friday that the national elections were 'necessary but not sufficient' for reestablishing democracy, and urged a 'free, fair and transparent' vote.

'The November 29 national elections are another critical step in the restoration of the democratic and constitutional order in Honduras,' Kelly said in a statement.

Hondurans will go to the polls to choose between five candidates. Neither Zelaya nor the country's de facto leader Roberto Micheletti, who took over after the coup that ousted Zelaya in June, will be on the ballot.

The United States has long supported Zelaya's return to power, but is one of the few countries that has said it will recognize the outcome of the election. This has drawn criticism from some Latin American countries that believe the US has not done enough to help Zelaya regain his office.

Zelaya has said he will continue to insist on his reinstatement regardless of the election's outcome. A key vote will take place in the Honduran legislature on Wednesday, when lawmakers will decide whether to restore Zelaya to power until his term officially ends December 27.

'We wish the Honduran people well as they choose their new leaders on Sunday, and we urge all sides to exercise their rights peacefully,' Kelly said.