MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Micheletti lifts emergency decree; IMF promises aid to Zelaya

Circumstances are closing in on de facto leader Micheletti

Honduras' de facto leader Roberto Micheletti lifted Monday an emergency decree that suspended some civil liberties and shut two media outlets loyal to ousted President Manuel Zelaya. Micheletti had come under pressure to end the emergency measures as the Organization of American States, OAS, tried to negotiate an end to a crisis triggered when Zelaya was toppled in a June coup.

However Zelaya slipped back into the country two weeks ago and has taken refuge in the Brazilian embassy from where he is calling for his supporters to protest and demand his reinstatement.

“I am going to respectfully ask, that just as we took the decision to impose it, that we lift it” Micheletti told local television in an interview.

Both leaders say they are ready for talks, but their key demands remain unchanged. Micheletti says Zelaya must face the courts and is resisting pressure to restore him to power, while Zelaya insists he be reinstated unconditionally. Once back in the job he is prepared to face the courts, he has admitted.

The emergency decree triggered a wave of international condemnation, and Zelaya supporters had demanded it be lifted before talks.

Zelaya was ousted following a decision from the Honduran Parliament and the Supreme Court, but he was later detained at gun point and flown out of the country by the military to neighbouring Costa Rica. Micheletti has admitted that it was a “major mistake” but also points out to the Army were fearful of bloodshed and there are no facilities in the country to lock up a political figure.

Meantime from Istambul the former president of Honduras Central Bank, Edwin Araque said the received a support commitment from the IMF for President Zelaya’s administration.

Araque and Finance minister Rebecca Santos from the ousted Honduran government met Monday with IMF Deputy Managing Director, Murilo Portugal and Latinamerican Director Nicolás Eyzaguirre in the framework of the IMF-World Bank annual assembly in Turkey.

IMF officials said that the organization is waiting for a return to democratic normality to begin the process of sending a team to assess the economic situation and needs of Honduras, said Santos from Istambul.

Asked if the delegation had managed the commitment of IMF to support Honduras when the return to democracy Santos said, “yes, of course”.