Sat, July 04, 2009
TEGUCIGALPA, July 3 (Xinhua) -- Honduras' interim government announced Friday that the country had decided to quit from the Organization of American States (OAS).
The announcement came after OAS chief Jose Miguel Insulza said he would recommend the suspension of Honduras from the regional group due to its post-coup rulers' refusal to reinstate ousted President Manuel Zelaya.
The OAS has given Honduras' interim government until noon on Saturday to restore Zelaya to power, or face expulsion.
Insulza, who is on a fact-finding mission in Honduras, said Zelaya must be reinstalled to lead the country.
"Zelaya is the only one that we recognize as Honduran President, and he must be returned to his position as soon as possible," Insulza said at a press conference.
"Honduras is exposed to an international sanction, because the world unanimously has declared this action as a violation of democracy. I have spoken with several people, and apparently no one wants to accept responsibility for what happened last weekend."
"I'm going back to Washington and I will report what I found out here to the OAS Assembly. We will discuss it and then we're going to make a decision," Insulza said.
Enrique Ortez Colindres, foreign minister of Honduras' post-coup government, told media that the government would not negotiate with the OAS.
"We have a very firm position that we do not negotiate Honduras' sovereignty," Ortez said.
Honduran soldiers stormed the presidential palace and flew Zelaya into exile in Costa Rica early Sunday.
Later, the country's legislature voted to appoint Roberto Micheletti, head of the legislature, as acting president to serve out Zelaya's term, which ends in January.
