Ousted Honduran President Manuel Zelaya has urged the United Nations
General Assembly to restore the rule of law and freedom in his country.
Mr. Zelaya addressed the assembly Monday in a cellphone call from the
Brazilian embassy in Honduras, where he has been holed up since
slipping back into the country last week. He made the remarks over a
phone held by the foreign minister of his government, Patricia Isabel
Rodas Baca, who later addressed delegates.
The ousted Honduran leader appealed to the 192-member body to guarantee
his safety and those of Hondurans who have taken to the streets to
demand his reinstatement. Following his remarks, some delegates gave
him a standing ovation.
In her comments, Rodas said Honduras is becoming "an enormous prison."
She called for a special General Assembly session to review the
situation in her country.
Earlier, the de facto Honduran government sent soldiers to close two broadcasters (Radio Globo and TV Channel 36),one
day after suspending some civil liberties in response to the political
crisis. But lawmakers have asked interim President Roberto Micheletti
to reconsider the order on those liberties. He met with several top
lawmakers Monday.
The decree issued Sunday allows authorities to shut down media outlets
and ban unauthorized meetings. It also authorizes arrests without
warrants.
The human rights group, Human Rights Watch, on Monday pressed de facto leaders to rescind the decree on press freedoms.
Separately, the interim government said a commission from the
Organization of American States is welcome to visit Honduras on October
7.
Hours earlier, the OAS met to discuss the ongoing political crisis. In
the talks, a U.S. official, Lewis Amselem, criticized Mr. Zelaya for
what Amselem described as the ousted leader's "irresponsible" return to
Honduras.
The Micheletti government is threatening to revoke the Brazilian
embassy's diplomatic status because it continues to shelter Mr. Zelaya.
Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has said his government "does not accept ultimatums from coup plotters."