Honduran president kidnapped, flown to Costa Rica

• Source: Xinhua
• [07:56 June 29 2009]
• Comments

Honduran President Manuel Zelaya attends a news conference in Tegucigalpa, capital of Honduras, on June 27, 2009. Honduran President Manuel Zelaya was arrested at home on June 28, 2009 by troops and was taken to an air force base near the capital Tegucigalpa, Zelaya's private secretary told Xinhua. (Xinhua/David)

Honduran President Manuel Zelaya told television reporters that he was kidnapped by soldiers and forced onto a plane to Costa Rica, shortly after his arrival in Costa Rica's capital San Jose on Sunday.

"I thank all Costa Ricans for their hospitality," he said. "A few minutes ago President Oscar Arias spoke to me and said that he was ready to help me with anything. I have not yet asked for asylum in coast Rica. This is a kidnap, a blackmail addressed to Honduras democratic system," he said.

Zelaya said that he would seek support from all the presidents in the Americas and asked that U.S. President Barack Obama clarify if the U.S. embassy in Honduras had backed the coup.

"The US can avoid this terrible attack on our people and our democracy. The presidents of the Americas are calling me and I have already spoken to Nicaragua's Daniel Ortega who has offered me his support," Zelaya said.

Zelaya said that Ortega had invited him to travel to Nicaragua and take part in the Central American Integration System presidents' meeting as normal when it begins on Monday morning.

President Ortega said "Come here. We are not going to recognize any spurious, coup government that installs itself in Honduras. We will not recognize it," he said. He also said he had received a supportive phone call from Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez.

He also asked for intervention from the Organization of American States, whose Secretary General Jose Miguel Insulza is due to visit Tegucigalpa on Monday.

The Costa Rican government has not yet made an official statement on the situation in Honduras.