Western Hemisphere
According to Roberto Micheletti, Honduras interim president, who was named by Congress to replace President Manuel Zelaya, Hugo Chávez is responsible for the crisis in the Central American country.

Chávez has had a "clear and definite" intervention in the situation that Honduras is currently living through, said Micheletti. The former Congress speaker became president after the army arrested and expelled President Zelaya on Sunday, DPA reported.

The interim president questioned the fact that the United Nations and the Organization of American States (OAS) did not realize what "was happening in Honduras."

Micheletti insisted on saying that should Zelaya return to Honduras next Saturday, he will be arrested, as requested by the Attorney General Office, to face multiple charges such as "high treason."

The boxes and the ballot papers for the polls President Zelaya had planned to carry out last Sunday to convene a Constituent Assembly that would have drafted a new Constitution had come from Venezuela on Friday, June 19, sources reported in recent days.

Micheletti also hinted that Zelaya could be linked to drug trafficking, after he wondered about the frequent crash of light aircrafts in Honduras with drug shipments from Venezuela.

"We can not negotiate anything," Micheletti said in reference to the return of Zelaya after the 72-hour ultimatum given by the Organization of the American States (OAS) to reinstate deposed President Manuel Zelaya.

The interim President cautioned that Zelaya would be arrested and imprisoned even if he is accompanied by the presidents of Argentina and Ecuador and the head of the OAS, as announced.

In his view, it would be unfortunate if the international community maintains its position on isolating Honduras following Zelaya's "departure." In the event of recalling ambassadors by some countries, "it is going to hurt us a lot," but we will continue working, he regretted.

Micheletti reported that a Honduran commission is on visit in Washington trying to explain to US Congress the grounds to overthrow Zelaya.

In an interview with Efe news agency, the interim President said that "time is running in our favor, because we are taking the opportunity to transfer to the countries that currently have doubts about what has happened here the information we have about all the mistakes committed by former President Zelaya."

Meanwhile, Honduras newly appointed Foreign Minister Enrique Ortez Colindres said that "there is no chance that Zelaya returns to Honduras," in a reaction to the ultimatum made by the OAS to reinstate ousted President Zelaya.

"We will not negotiate the sovereignty of Honduras with the OAS or any international organization," Ortez Colindres said.

Translated by Gerardo Cárdenas