By Dolores M. Bernal, NEWS JUNKIE POST
The deposed Honduran leader Manuel Zelaya said this evening that he will return to Honduras on Thursday after he meets with UN officials in New York.
Zelaya has received the support of most countries in the world, including the United States, according to statements he made today. The leftist president said that he is impressed with the U.S. State Department’s efforts to see him be re-instated. “[The United States] has been very good in all its declarations,” Zelaya said after a meeting with Nicaraguan officials. (Translated remarks).
The United Nations has scheduled Zelaya to give a speech and denounce Sunday’s coup E’tat. The Honduran president was detained yesterday morning by military forces. He was flown to Costa Rica. Other high ranking officials from his administration were also detained.
“I will return as president elect and fulfill my four-year presidential term,” Zelaya said.
It’s unclear how welcomed Zelaya will be by the Honduran government that orchestrated the coup. Since Zelaya was sent to Costa Rica, the congress in that country has sworn in a new president and a new cabinet.
Trade to Honduras has been suspended by all Central American countries, the Dominican Republic, and Mexico for the next 48 hours. The countries have also agreed to pull their representatives out of Honduras to protest the coup.
Protesters Injured
At least 15 people were injured today during rallies protesting Sunday’s coup. Protesters gathered on the streets of Tegucigalpa and other major cities. A TV reporter from TeleSur was attacked by soldiers and held at gun point, according to La Prensa Grafica of El Salvador. Another journalist from the AP and was also detained, but was later set free.
The soldiers escorted the reporters to immigration in an attempt to deport them.
