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Honduran President Arrested on Day of Disputed Referendum
By VOA News
28 June 2009
Honduras' President Manuel Zelaya salutes during a news conference at the presidential house in Tegucigalpa, Friday, 26 June 2009
Soldiers detained the president of Honduras, Jose Manuel Zelaya, on Sunday - the day he set for a referendum on changing the constitution to allow him to run for another term.
Aides to the president say troops took Mr. Zelaya from his residence Sunday morning. Some officials say he was taken to a nearby air base.
The Honduran Supreme Court has declared the referendum illegal and the military had refused to help organize the balloting. The president fired the armed forces chief of staff General Romeo Vasquez last week for failing to support him.
President Zelaya had enlisted supporters to set up polling stations for Sunday's referendum in the Central American country.
Mr. Zelaya's opponents are urging voters to stay home. Some businesses in the capital, Tegucigalpa, closed in anticipation of violence.
Critics say the referendum is an attempt by the president to solidify power. Mr. Zelaya denies the accusation and says the institutions, such as the supreme court, only support the rich.
President Zelaya was elected in 2006 to a four-year term. The 1982 constitution bans re-election.
<span style="font-weight: bold">The president enjoys the support of leftist Latin American leaders, including Venezuela's Hugo Chavez and Cuba's Fidel Castro.</span>
Some information for this report was provided by AP and Reuters.
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By VOA News
28 June 2009
Honduras' President Manuel Zelaya salutes during a news conference at the presidential house in Tegucigalpa, Friday, 26 June 2009
Soldiers detained the president of Honduras, Jose Manuel Zelaya, on Sunday - the day he set for a referendum on changing the constitution to allow him to run for another term.
Aides to the president say troops took Mr. Zelaya from his residence Sunday morning. Some officials say he was taken to a nearby air base.
The Honduran Supreme Court has declared the referendum illegal and the military had refused to help organize the balloting. The president fired the armed forces chief of staff General Romeo Vasquez last week for failing to support him.
President Zelaya had enlisted supporters to set up polling stations for Sunday's referendum in the Central American country.
Mr. Zelaya's opponents are urging voters to stay home. Some businesses in the capital, Tegucigalpa, closed in anticipation of violence.
Critics say the referendum is an attempt by the president to solidify power. Mr. Zelaya denies the accusation and says the institutions, such as the supreme court, only support the rich.
President Zelaya was elected in 2006 to a four-year term. The 1982 constitution bans re-election.
<span style="font-weight: bold">The president enjoys the support of leftist Latin American leaders, including Venezuela's Hugo Chavez and Cuba's Fidel Castro.</span>
Some information for this report was provided by AP and Reuters.
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