mediahasyou
06-28-2009, 11:38 AM
Obama Calls for Order as Honduran Military Arrests President
President
Manuel Zelaya had tried to hold a vote to change the constitution to let him run again, a move deemed illegal by the Supreme Court, Congress and the country's military.
President Obama on Sunday called on all actors in Honduras to respect the rule of law after military leaders there arrested President Manuel Zelaya to head off Zelaya's attempt to hold a vote on constitutional changes deemed illegal by the country's Supreme Court and Congress.
Zelaya, in a move similar to his ally, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, had wanted to overturn the law that prohibited him from seeking another term in office. He called the arrest a "coup" and a "kidnapping."
"I am deeply concerned by reports coming out of Honduras regarding the detention and expulsion of President Mel Zelaya," Obama said in a written statement.
"As the Organization of American States did on Friday, I call on all political and social actors in Honduras to respect democratic norms, the rule of law and the tenets of the Inter-American Democratic Charter. Any existing tensions and disputes must be resolved peacefully through dialogue free from any outside interference," Obama said.
White House officials said Obama and National Security Adviser James Jones met Sunday morning to discuss the situation in the Central American nation. Aides from several agencies are monitoring the situation and providing updates to Obama and Jones.
The European Union also criticized the overthrow, which followed Zelaya's firing of the chief of the armed services.
Zelaya told a local television station that he had been moved to Costa Rica, and was sitting in the airport in the capital of San Jose.
from: http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/06/28/obama-calls-order-military-arrests-honduran-president/
President
Manuel Zelaya had tried to hold a vote to change the constitution to let him run again, a move deemed illegal by the Supreme Court, Congress and the country's military.
President Obama on Sunday called on all actors in Honduras to respect the rule of law after military leaders there arrested President Manuel Zelaya to head off Zelaya's attempt to hold a vote on constitutional changes deemed illegal by the country's Supreme Court and Congress.
Zelaya, in a move similar to his ally, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, had wanted to overturn the law that prohibited him from seeking another term in office. He called the arrest a "coup" and a "kidnapping."
"I am deeply concerned by reports coming out of Honduras regarding the detention and expulsion of President Mel Zelaya," Obama said in a written statement.
"As the Organization of American States did on Friday, I call on all political and social actors in Honduras to respect democratic norms, the rule of law and the tenets of the Inter-American Democratic Charter. Any existing tensions and disputes must be resolved peacefully through dialogue free from any outside interference," Obama said.
White House officials said Obama and National Security Adviser James Jones met Sunday morning to discuss the situation in the Central American nation. Aides from several agencies are monitoring the situation and providing updates to Obama and Jones.
The European Union also criticized the overthrow, which followed Zelaya's firing of the chief of the armed services.
Zelaya told a local television station that he had been moved to Costa Rica, and was sitting in the airport in the capital of San Jose.
from: http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/06/28/obama-calls-order-military-arrests-honduran-president/