UPDATE 1-U.S., responding to Zelaya, urges patience on talks

Tue Jul 14, 2009 1:25pm EDT
 
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WASHINGTON, July 14 (Reuters) - The U.S. State Department said on Tuesday all parties in Honduras' political crisis should give talks a chance to succeed and not set deadlines.

The comment by State Department spokesman Ian Kelly was a response to ousted President Manuel Zelaya's statement that the negotiations will have failed if he is not reinstated at the next meeting, which is likely to occur this weekend.

"All parties in the talks should give this process some time. Don't set any artificial deadlines ... We have to give the process a chance," Kelly told reporters, referring to mediation talks led by Costa Rican President Oscar Arias.

Zelaya insists on his reinstatement after the June 28 coup. But Roberto Micheletti, installed as interim president by Honduras' Congress, is adamant Zelaya cannot return to power under any circumstances because he was seeking to illegally extend his rule through the lifting of presidential term limits.

No foreign government has recognized Micheletti as president. The United States, the Organization of American States and the U.N. General Assembly have called for Zelaya to be restored to office after the coup in the impoverished Central American country.

(Editing by Eric Beech)

 

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