Honduran military ousts president ahead of vote

AP ^ | 06/28/09 | WILL WEISSERT and FREDDY CUEVAS

[Artemis Webb]

Soldiers seized the national palace and sent President Manuel Zelaya into exile in Costa Rica on Sunday, hours before a disputed constitutional referendum. Zelaya, a leftist ally of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, said he was victim of a coup.

The Supreme Court said it was supporting the military in what it called a defense of democracy, and the Honduran ambassador to the Organization of American States said the military was planning to swear in Congressional President Roberto Micheletti to replace Zelaya.

Zelaya was arrested shortly before polls were to open in a referendum on whether to change the constitution. The Supreme Court ruled the referendum illegal and everyone from Congress to members of his own party opposed it. Critics said Zelaya wanted to remove limits to his re-election.

It was not immediately clear who was running the government. Tanks rolled through the streets and hundreds of soldiers with riot shields surrounded the presidential palace in the capital, Tegucigalpa.

The constitution mandates that the head of Congress — Micheletti — is next in line to the presidency, followed by the chief justice of the Supreme Court.

[Artemis Webb]

I hope this is okay as it's a different take on the story.

[2banana]

Zelaya is a marxist and wanted to be president for life the way Hugo did it. The Honduras Army is well respected and very professional and didn’t stand for that crap...

[Joe Boucher]

Artemis Webb,
Don’t worry guy, ya done good,
Thanks for the post.

Go Cards.

[JSDude1]

I hope our military take their oath that seriously when it becomes evident that the illgal presdent is now in office!

[Oldpuppymax]

I hope our military take their oath that seriously when it becomes evident that the illgal presdent is now in office!

Hussein knows he’d have a large problem with the US military were he to attempt a “president of life” thing just now. The vast majority of soldiers would be more likely to fire on him than on the American people. It’ll be interesting to see how he works to change the make up of the armed forces to avoid this difficulty in the future.

[novemberslady]

It's fine.

Zelaya was arrested shortly before polls were to open in a referendum on whether to change the constitution.
The Supreme Court ruled the referendum illegal and everyone from Congress to members of his own party opposed it.
Critics said Zelaya wanted to remove limits to his re-election.

Good on them for not letting him get away with it.

I am a Free American who will not accept or willingly allow a dictatorship, or any other sort of never-ending presidency...

[jonno]

Zelaya was elected to office in January 2006. He said Sunday he will not recognize any government instituted by the military, and will serve out his term, which ends in January 2009.

Did I miss something?

[RushingWater]

Zelaya is a marxist and wanted to be president for life the way Hugo did it. The Honduras Army is well respected and very professional and didn’t stand for that crap...

Now that's Hope and Change!

[Leftism is Mentally Deranged]

Zelaya is a leftist. Good riddance.