U.S. urges Honduras de facto leader to step aside
Honduras' de facto leader Roberto Micheletti speaks during a news conference at the Presidential House in Tegucigalpa October 29, 2009.
Credit: Reuters/Oswaldo Rivas
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Honduras' de facto leader should make good on an offer to step aside for a week so voters can focus on November 29 polls and resolve the country's political crisis, the U.S. State Department said Friday.
Roberto Micheletti, who seized power after a June military coup toppled President Manuel Zelaya, said in a televised address Thursday he might give up his duties between November 25 and December 2.
"We welcome that he is going to take a leave of absence and expect its prompt implementation. This will allow some breathing space for the process in Honduras to go forward," State Department spokesman Robert Wood told a news briefing.
Campaigning in the poor central American country has been overshadowed by political fallout from the coup, which was condemned by Latin American leaders.
Micheletti did not say for certain that he would step aside, however, and Zelaya, who has taken refuge at the Brazilian embassy after sneaking back into the country in September, dismissed the offer.
Wood said Washington continued to believe that the best way to solve the crisis was through a pact it brokered in late October which quickly foundered as rival sides failed to form a unity government.
"If we are going to address the questions of restoring democracy, if we are going to deal with the question of reconciliation, the best way to do this is to move forward with the implementation of the accord," Wood said.
Zelaya has refused to return to the presidency of the coffee- and textile-producing country as part of any negotiated deal, saying this would legitimize the coup and next week's presidential poll, which he has urged supporters to boycott.
Latin American leaders have called for Zelaya's immediate reinstatement. But the United States appeared to weaken his position recently by saying recognition of the presidential election was not contingent on Zelaya's return.
(Reporting by Andrew Quinn; Editing by Sandra Maler)
