The de facto Honduran government insisted yesterday that it would not allow ousted president Manuel Zelaya to return to office, dampening hopes of a deal to end a political crisis after last month's coup.
Roberto Micheletti, named president by Congress after Mr Zelaya was toppled in the June 28th coup, said he was open to dialogue to resolve the crisis but would not accept Mr Zelaya back in power, as mediators are asking.
"I've clearly said it before and I say it again, if there is a solution where I have to step down I will do it willingly, but I cannot allow Zelaya to return as president," Mr Micheletti told reporters.
Rafael Pineda, who as minister of the presidency is number two in the de facto government, told Reuters the administration was "firm, unchangeable" against Mr Zelaya's return to power.
In neighboring Nicaragua, the exiled Mr Zelaya asked a US delegation to step up measures against the coup leaders and vowed to take his case to the International Criminal Court.
With mediator Costa Rica's efforts making little progress, Mr Micheletti invited Enrique Iglesias, former Inter-American Development Bank head, to come to Honduras as a special envoy to try and rekindle negotiations.
The coup leaders are under pressure from Washington to reinstate Mr Zelaya, and a source close to the de facto government said Mr Micheletti might consider letting Mr Zelaya back if there were assurances he would not try to derail democracy.
But Mr Micheletti said yesterday that if Mr Zelaya came back it would be to face trial.
Mr Zelaya incited profound criticism while in office by allying with Venezuela's firebrand president Hugo Chavez and pushing to allow presidential re-election.
"If he wants to retake control of the government, not under any circumstance," r Micheletti said.
US president Barack Obama has been pressured by Republican senators who want him to clarify his policy toward Honduras. Republican Senator Jim DeMint has threatened to delay a Senate vote on a nomination for a key State Department post for Latin America because of US support for leftist Mr Zelaya.
Washington has revoked diplomatic visas for four members of Mr Micheletti's administration to pressure it to reverse the coup, which has been condemned by Latin American governments and the UN General Assembly. International loans and US military aid have also been frozen.
Mr Pineda said the de facto government would hold out until a November presidential election if talks do not produce a deal.
He said Mr Micheletti could quit as part of an accord Costa Rican president Oscar Arias is trying to broker, but only on the condition that Mr Zelaya resign as well.
The de facto government's foreign minister Carlos Lopez echoed Mr Pineda, saying the government was willing to endure tougher sanctions and hold out until November elections.
"This country can survive in the most dramatic scenarios," he told Reuters. "The people might eat less but fasting in all religions is good for the body and the spirit."
Honduran political analyst Juan Ramon Martinez said Mr Micheletti seemed to be entrenching his position at home.
"I think what they are doing is ensuring that the dialogue drags on so the negotiation won't die but it won't move forward either," said Mr Martinez, a former presidential candidate with close connections to the Micheletti government.
The interim government has previously said it will abide by the decision of the Supreme Court, which is due to rule in the coming days on Mr Arias' proposal that Mr Zelaya be allowed back to serve out the rest of his term, which ends early next year.
Mr Zelaya upset the Supreme Court and many in Congress by trying to hold a referendum to change the constitution. Critics say he was trying to extend his mandate but he denies that.
"If he comes back it will be more of a symbolic return in order to get international aid flowing again ... Perhaps we are now seeing the light at the end of the tunnel but it's a long tunnel," said Eurasia Group analyst Heather Berkman.
Reuters