Honduras to let Zelaya leave country for Mexico

AP ^ | Dec. 9, 2009

[Mount Athos]

Honduras' interim government says it has authorized ousted President Manuel Zelaya to leave the country and go to Mexico.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Milton Mateo says the safe-conduct pass was signed and would be delivered to the Brazilian Embassy, where Zelaya has been holed up since sneaking back into the country Sept. 21.

Mateo said Wednesday night that the Mexican government has sent an airplane to pick up Zelaya and his family.

Another official of the interim government's Foreign Ministry said Mexico requested that Zelaya be given safe conduct to leave.

A Mexican government official, speaking on condition of anonymity, says the matter has been under discussion but can't confirm any arrangements have been made.

[Mount Athos]

3 days ago, Zelaya said he would stay at the Brasilian embassy (in Honduras) as long as they'd let him. Looks like they might not want him much longer.

Maybe Chavez will send him a che t-shirt and beans to cheer him up.

[HonCitizen]

UPDATE:

it has been said that Z wanted to go to Spain but allegedly, the king Don Juan Carlos opposed to any kind of assylum for Z.

The zone near the embassy is calm in this moment, but some Z’s supporters are gathering. they are not so much.

[FlingWingFlyer]

Shouldn’t they make Zelaya wait until Bammie can get down there and give him one last bow before he leaves for Mexico?

[Truth29]

Why does this seem like a bad idea... He can continue to foment trouble rather than facing trial in Honduras. Or would a trial be even worse? What a choice.

[rae4palin]

Honduras to Zelaya: Adios, loser.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

Z will drop off the radar in a week. He disgraced himself at the end of his presidency and that’s how he’ll be remembered.

[Dr. Sivana]

Why does this seem like a bad idea... He can continue to foment trouble rather than facing trial in Honduras.

If they didn't hust have a well-run election, I might agree. Zelaya has not shown himself to have the wiles or numbers or connections to do the job, so I think this is the best outcome.

[Bobibutu]

http://lagringasblogicito.blogspot.com/ Update 7:40 pm: Honduras' equivalent of the FAA has granted permission to land to a Mexican-registered plane. A 'commission' is arriving soon to escort ex-president Zelaya and his family. Political analysts are discussing the fact that political asylum cannot be given for criminal charges. Update 8:23: Zelaya is on the phone with channel 3. He would not confirm he is going to Mexico and has said that he has never asked for political asylum from any country. Says he will remain the president of Honduras until January 27. Announcer asked him three times whether he was leaving for Mexico and he evaded the questions! The last time he was asked, he said he was having problems communicating on this phone line and that he would call back later. Click! The crowd is getting larger and noisier. Update 8:28: Cholusat Sur also received a call from Zelaya. He would not confirm to them either that he was leaving the country. Esdras and his sidekick are congratulating themselves that they are the only serious media source with the correct story. Hahaha. Update 8:35: Chancellor of Honduras confirms that a salvoconducto has been granted to Zelaya and his family. Update 8:45: "A president should never be treated this way. I've never in my life had a charge against me. When the US changed their position..... I wanted to have elections but under a democratic government. I want to revisit the terms of the Accord. The Accord is outside of all that makes sense. The elections don't resolve anything." − Zelaya on the phone with channel 11. The crowd is growing and shouting for the media. So leave already! before another riot starts. Update 8:50: Zelaya advisor and fugitive from justice Rasel Tome confirmed to CNN today that Zelaya had spoken with leaders of several countries today, but would not confirm that he had asked for political asylum. (Interesting: Maybe the international media cameras were turned off, because all of sudden, the crowd is quiet again and seems to be thinning out.) Update 9:00: Channel 3 is reporting that President Micheletti suspended the salvoconducto. Channel 36 is still congratulating themselves that they are the only professional media in the country. "It's not easy," they say. Yes, they have hardly had time tonight to read their Facebook entries or text messages to the audience. Update 9:00: Apparently Mexico was going to receive Zelaya as a distinguished guest rather than grant him political asylum, and Zelaya wanted to attend the ALBA meeting in Cuba on December 14. The Mexican plane, however, they say, has left for El Salvador without its passengers. Update 9:35: This is very confusing. I'm reading that the Honduran government granted the salvoconducto, but that Zelaya refused to travel under a salvoconducto, because he's "still the president of Honduras!" But it doesn't look like he will be leaving tonight. The lights are turned off at the airport. Channel 10 reports that some members of the resistance are intimidating (Honduran) journalists. (They love foreign journalists.) There are a couple of dozen people jumping up and down for the cameras.

[RushingWater]

I love it. This little country told Obama to take a hike. Obama, your commie wannabe puppet, leaving disgracefully.

[Seven plus One]

Why does this seem like a bad idea... He can continue to foment trouble rather than facing trial in Honduras...

According to their law, you behave as he did and the penalty is that they kick you out of the country. Mexico says they'll take him, so it's all good. The Constitution wins, as it should. It seems to be Chavez, Ortega, and obama proof so far; Viva Honduras.

[ABQHispConservative]

Makes sense. Mexico has more pull in the region than Brazil ever had. They are closer and have more commercial ties. He’s probably on his way to Cuba anyway. If he is, he can rot with the Castro brothers.

[HonCitizen]

UPDATE:

Z will NOT be leaving the embassy. In the last minute he declined to be taken to Mexico city. Also the govt. denied the safe-conduct to Z because the terms in which Mexico requested it are unacceptable. Mexico wanted to take Z and to declare him “honor guest”. The Chancery also denied it because Z wanted to take Rassel Tomé, former chief of CONATEL the honduran equivalent to the FCC. A judge has ruled that Mr. Tomé had to be sent to jail, found guilty of several crimes.

[rdl6989]

Bump! Thanks for the quick update.

[ErnstStavroBlofeld]

GOOD RIDDANCE

[ErnstStavroBlofeld]

Ping

[ApplegateRanch]

He’ll have fake Green Card, and be on welfare, living in public housing in San Diego next week.

[riri]

He’ll have fake Green Card, and be on welfare, living in public housing in San Diego next week

Nah, more than likely he'll be given a tenured professorial position at one of our "prestigious" universities where he can help churn out more just like him.

[Jimmy Valentine]

Well Zelaya was sleeping in the living room of the embassy. All those dirty socks and empty beer cans can get a person down.

Brasilians breathing a big sigh of relief I'll bet.