Protests in Honduras after military coup

Protesters have taken to the streets of Honduras’ capital, amid wordwide condemnation of a military coup.

In defiance of a curfew, supporters of ousted president Manuel Zelaya set up barricades outside the presidential palace and blocked roads. Shots had earlier been heard, but there have been no reports of any casualties.

In the first military coup in Central America since the Cold War, Roberto Micheletti was sworn in as interim president. The leftist leader Zelaya had earlier been arrested and flown out of the coutry by the army. He was taken to Nicaragua via Costa Rica. There he spoke to reporters.

“I am the president of the people of Honduras,” he said. “Only the people can remove me, not a group of thugs. They are not the ones who are going to take away my moral power to represent the people of Honduras.”

Other leftist Latin American leaders have rallied around Zelaya at a crisis meeting in Nicaragua. The US and the European Union are also among those condemning the coup.

Zelaya had angered military chiefs and Congress by attempting to change the constitution so presidents can seek a second term.

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tags: Coup, Honduras