MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Soldiers arrest Honduran president on day of disputed referendum

Mr Zelaya wants a constitutional change allowing him to seek a second term.

Soldiers have arrested the Honduran president and taken him to an air force base just before voting was to begin on a disputed constitutional election.

President Manuel Zelaya's private secretary tells The Associated Press that Zelaya was arrested and brought to a base on the outskirts of the capital, Tegucigalpa.

An Associated Press reporter saw dozens of green-helmeted soldiers surround the president's house Sunday morning and then later jump in trucks and drive away. About 60 police continue to guard the house. The president did not appear.

Zelaya had pledged to go forward with a referendum on constitutional reform despite the opposition of the Supreme Court, the military, Congress and members of his own party.