US condemns Honduras violence

The United States today condemned violence against protesters in Honduras and called for President Manuel Zelaya's reinstatement…

The United States today condemned violence against protesters in Honduras and called for President Manuel Zelaya's reinstatement as the Central American country faced growing isolation over last week's coup.

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is expected to meet Mr Zelaya in Washington on Tuesday, a US official said, in a sign the Obama administration - which has already condemned his ouster - wants to provide visible support.

Honduras's interim authorities foiled Mr Zelaya's attempt to force the issue and return home on yesterday, preventing his small, private jet from landing in the capital. Mr Zelaya ended up flying to El Salvador.

At least one person was killed and two people were badly wounded in clashes with troops after thousands of pro-Zelaya demonstrators marched to meet him at the airport in Tegucigalpa and broke through fencing near the runaway.

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It was the first death in protests since the June 28th coup in the impoverished coffee and textile exporting country.

Honduras's interim government has insisted Mr Zelaya's removal was a constitutional transition that, while carried out by the army, was supported by the country's Supreme Court. The government, which was installed by Congress soon after the coup, argues that he had had illegally tried to organize a vote on changing presidential term limits.

United Nations chief Ban Ki-moon urged the Organization of American States today to take the lead role in restoring constitutional order in Honduras. The OAS late Saturday took the rare step of suspending Honduras for its refusal to reinstate Mr Zelaya.

Reuters