Honduran interim leader: I'm willing to step down

[subsuelo]

TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras — Honduras' interim leader said Wednesday he is willing to step down if it helps end his country's political crisis, conditioning the offer on guarantees that ousted President Manuel Zelaya doesn't return to take his place.

Roberto Micheletti presented the offer as a means to end the nearly three-week standoff over Honduras' military-backed coup, but he also accused unspecified parties of handing out weapons and planning an armed rebellion in Honduras.

The interim president said he was willing to leave office "if at some point that decision is needed to bring peace and tranquility to the country, but without the return, and I stress this, of former President Zelaya."

The resignation offer was presented by a Honduran delegation to the Washington-based Organization of American States, he told reporters in Tegucigalpa. It was unclear if the OAS had received the proposal.

...

Asked about the possibility of an armed rebellion, Micheletti said: "I don't think we will get to that point. Our country is peaceful. I don't believe Hondurans will pick up arms to kill other Hondurans."

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/top/all/6531355.html

[AlphaCentauri]

1. Another step to try to legitimize the military coup n/t

[Bacchus39]

2. sounds good to me

I think Hondurans are ready to get to the November elections and beyond.

[rabs]

3. Gorilett's offer to step down

sort of confirms something I heard yesterday: Goriletti would step down, but only if a third party is installed in the presidency. That would leave both Goriletti and Zelaya out.

But highly doubt the Zelaya camp would agree to that sort of deal.

Today read in Honduran pro-golpista media that general strike is set for tomorrow (Thursday). About 8,000 doctors, nurses and other health workers among those walking out. Only emergency cases and Intensive Care patients will be cared for.

The Goriletti government has threatened to fire or suspend 20,000 teachers who have suspended classes nationwide in public schools in support of Zelaya.

It has become difficult to gauge the true situation internally after Telesur and VTV were kicked out on Sunday.

[Judi Lynn]

4. Maybe he's afraid he has bitten off far more than he can chew, and could have a bloody uprising

on his hands.

There's got to be some reason they've thrown out so many journalists, something they don't want getting out about conditions there.
p
I'll bet they are afraid if the people fight back, they will lose any possible support from anywhere other than the tiny oligarchy, and right-wing sociopaths in the States.

[Bacchus39]

5. I would think you would be happy to see him go n/t

s

[subsuelo]

6. The gem of a quote is the "our country is peaceful" bit

"Our country is peaceful. I don't believe Hondurans will pick up arms to kill other Hondurans."

Isn't it Honduran troops that *he* ultimately commands who have killed demonstrators and activist leaders? What those troops aren't actually Hondurans or something? Unbelievable...

[Judi Lynn]

8. Isn't that silly? He's got soldiers all over the country patrolling the streets,

and just last Sunday he had them drop a couple of protesters where they stood, as well as injuring countless others who were able to escape.

http://wwwimage.cbsnews.com.nyud.net:8090/images/2009/07/01/image5127973.jpg

http://1.bp.blogspot.com.nyud.net:8090/_7Se7iswAanA/SlAbtOuC0DI/AAAAAAAAILI/uHR0G-05W5k/s400/INF_NOTA24528_1086.jpg

Isis Obed Murillo, protestant pastor's son, was killed by snipers sent there to do that by Pinochetti. That filthy bastard already ordered Honduras' soldiers to kill their fellow man/woman, child, old person, or 19 year old boy like this kid. (By the way the biggest paper in Honduras photoshopped this picture so there was no blood on the shirt or dripping from the hellacious hole in the back of his head.)

[Downwinder]

7. Going to be a lot of new Florida residents.

Might help the Real Estate market.

[magbana]

9. It's part of the plan, it's part of the plan, it's part of the plan. With a star-studded

advisory team sent special delivery to Honduras by the US, little is being left to chance. I said a while back that the plan is to bring in a third party to serve as president. We know the US does not want Zelaya to return and everyone, even Micheletti, knows that he was not brought in to be the next prez of Honduras but to be the butcher. Micheletti has served his purpose-- he has kept Zeylaya away,repressed the people, and now it is time to have someone less brutal, more refined. This person will be the one that the US has aimed to put in as prez all along. The US cannot afford to leave Micheletti in much longer and must offer a "legitimate alternative" to Zelaya. The timing of Micheletti's announcement yesterday may be a sign that Zelaya is about to launch a dramatic return.

[Judi Lynn]

10. Really hope that will be the case. He has the support within the people. n/t