English Story

Honduras defiant over elections 洪都拉斯总统选举如期举行

The Honduran interim government says it will go ahead with presidential elections in November, even if results are not recognised by other countries.

洪都拉斯临时政府称将继续进行11月份的总统选举活动,即使其他国家不认可将来的结果。

Roberto Micheletti has rejected a plan to reinstate the president
Roberto Micheletti has rejected a plan to reinstate the president

It also told a visiting group of regional foreign ministers it was not concerned at international sanctions following the ousting of the president.

Left-wing President Manuel Zelaya was forced from the country on 28 June.

The visiting ministers failed to persuade the government to accept a mediated plan to return him to power.

He was ousted in a power struggle over his proposals for a public consultation(公开讨论) on constitutional change.

His critics said the move was aimed at removing the current one-term limit on serving as president and paving the way for his re-election.

No fear

The visiting Organisation of American States delegation - consisting of foreign ministers from Argentina, Canada, Costa Rica, Jamaica, Mexico, Panama and the Dominican Republic - had tried to persuade the interim government to allow him to return to power to serve the remainder of his term.

But the interim government, which accuses him of treason(叛逆), says this is impossible.

Interim President Roberto Micheletti said only armed intervention would change his government's course.

"We are not afraid of an embargo(禁运) by anybody.

"The country can carry on firmly and calmly without your support and that of other nations," he said after a meeting with the delegation.

"Nobody is coming here to impose anything on us, unless troops come from somewhere else and force us."

Presidential elections are due to be held on 29 November.

The OAS delegation had wanted to persuade Mr Micheletti to accept a plan devised by Costan Rican President Oscar Arias.

Under the proposed accord(一致,调和), Mr Zelaya would be reinstated(继单) as president, while Mr Micheletti would return to his pre-coup post as the speaker of Honduras's parliament, and early elections would be called.

However, the delegation left without success.

"While the committee considers that advances were made during its visit, it must be noted that there is still no willingness to accept the San Jose Accord on the part of the gentleman (Mr Micheletti)," the delegation said in a statement, AFP reported.

"The committee reiterates(反覆地说,反覆地做) the need for the rapid return to democratic normalcy(常态)... given the imminent(逼近的,即将发生的) start of the anticipated electoral campaign," the statement continued.

The US announced that visas would stop being issued from its embassy in Honduras because the interim government has refused to accept the proposal.