Honduras' Zelaya urges int'l community to speed up his restitution

MANAGUA, Nov. 3 (Xinhua) -- Ousted Honduran President Manuel Zelaya urged the international community on Tueday to speedily implement the Tegucigalpa-San Jose Agreement, which foresees his immediate restitution in power.

"We call the international community to watch for the fulfillment of the Tegucigalpa-San Jose Agreement," Zelaya declared in a communique issued Tuesday.

He also requested the National Congress to act immediately to carry out the restitution of the constitutional president. Moreover, he said it was important to respect human rights and international law.

A communique published by the Honduran embassy in Nicaragua said that according to the agreement signed in Tegucigalpa on Friday, the National Congress should act responsibly and abolish the decrees used to oust Zelaya.

Zelaya said his restitution was the only way to restore constitutional order in Honduras. He added that this was the only means of reintegrating Honduras into the international community, of lifting sanctions against the de facto regime and of ensuring that the upcoming elections would be held "in an environment of legality, legitimacy, and equality of opportunities."

The Honduran Congress submitted the Tegucigalpa-San Jose agreement to the Supreme Court of Justice for consideration on Tuesday.