- Title: HONDURAS: Honduras rulers renounce OAS charter
- Date: 5th July 2009
- Summary: TEGUCIGALPA, HONDURAS (JULY 3, 2009) (REUTERS) VARIOUS EXTERIORS OF GOVERNMENT PALACE (2 SHOTS) CLOSE-UP OF HONDURAN FLAG
- Embargoed: 20th July 2009 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Honduras
- Country: Honduras
- Topics: Domestic Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA5GPJE0D2CA7EP23637I9EF2Z9
- Story Text: Honduras' interim government rejects a demand by the Organization of American States (OAS) to reinstate ousted President Manuel Zelaya to power.
Honduras's interim rulers spurned a demand from the Organization of American States on Friday (July 3) to restore leftist President Manuel Zelaya to power and said they would no longer recognize the OAS charter, deepening Central America's worst political crisis in decades.
The OAS, the Western Hemisphere's top diplomatic body, was expected to suspend Honduras's membership, and the interim government's latest action could be a preemptive move to distance itself from the organization or even a step towards quitting it.
"I tell you that we reject the charter of the Organization of American States (OAS) conforming with what is written in article 143 of the charter with immediate effect," said deputy foreign minister Martha Alvarado, announcing Honduras would renounce the OAS charter.
Zelaya was ousted on Sunday in a dispute over extending presidential power and term limits. He is an ally of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez but leaders from across Latin America, as well as U.S. President Barack Obama, have demanded he be reinstated.
The bloodless overthrow in the impoverished coffee and textile exporting country of 7 million people has created a test of Washington's commitment to defending democracy in Latin America.
A Senior OAS official on Saturday said the caretaker government of Honduras cannot withdraw from the Organization of American States because it is not a legitimate government.. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
- Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2011. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
- Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
