Tegucigalpa: Ousted president Manuel Zelaya is asking the Obama administration why, after pressing for his reinstatement, it now says it will recognise upcoming Honduran elections even if he isn't returned to power first.
In a letter sent to the US State Department on Wednesday, Zelaya asked Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton "to clarify to the Honduran people if the position condemning the coup d'etat has been changed or modified."
His request came after Washington's top envoy to Latin America, Thomas Shannon, told CNN en Espanol that Washington will recognise the November 29 elections even if the Honduran Congress decides against returning Zelaya to power.
A US-brokered deal reached last week leaves Zelaya's reinstatement in the hands of Congress, but sets no deadline as to when lawmakers must decide. Delays in the expected vote have generated fears in the Zelaya camp.
"Both leaders took a risk and put their trust in Congress, but at the end of the day the accord requires that both leaders accept its decision," Shannon said.
The US has repeatedly pressed for Zelaya's reinstatement. President Barack Obama was explicit in a speech this summer: "America supports now the restoration of the democratically elected President of Honduras."
In Washington, State Department spokesman Ian Kelly said on Wednesday that the United States considers what happened in Honduras a coup and that Zelaya should be reinstated, but he said the focus now should be on implementing last week's deal between the ousted president's representatives and the interim government of Roberto Micheletti.
The deal left reinstatement in the hands of Congress, but hours after shaking hands, Zelaya and others indicated a behind-the-scenes arrangement had been made with Congress to reinstate him.
"This signifies my return to power in the coming days, and peace for Honduras," he said.
His comments and US’ approval of the deal, left many believing Congress was ready to put him back in office.
Bureau Report