Former Honduran President Manuel Zelaya left his refuge in the
Brazilian Embassy and flew into exile Wednesday, ending months
of turmoil and his thwarted quest to be restored to power after
a June 28 coup that drew international condemnation.
The leftist leader drove past soldiers guarding the diplomatic
compound in a 20-car caravan and headed for the airport
accompanied by President Porfirio Lobo, said Hilda Cruz, an
assistant of Zelaya's wife.
Zelaya was going to the Dominican Republic as a private citizen
under a deal signed by Lobo and the Caribbean country's
President Leonel Fernandez, who flew to Honduras to accompany
the former president. About 6,000 supporters gathered outside
the airport yelled "Mel, our friend, the people are with you!"
as his plane took off.
Lobo, who was sworn into office hours earlier, had said his
first task as president would be providing Zelaya a safe
passage out of the country.
"We have emerged from the worst crisis in the democratic
history of Honduras," said Lobo, 61, after taking the oath of
office. "We want national reconciliation to extend to a
necessary and indispensable reconciliation with the
international community."
Zelaya, who was ousted in a dispute over changing the Honduran
Constitution, insisted he was still president up until the
moment his four-year constitutional term officially ended
Wednesday.
Zelaya left with his wife, two children and an aide after four
months holed up in the embassy
A new president is inaugurated. An old president flies into
exile. An amnesty is proclaimed. And Honduras ends
its political crisis without giving into the Obama administration
which demanded reinstitution of Zelaya.
Hmm? It looks like our President, backed the wrong horse again,
and so did Hugo Chavez. There's still hope for us yet.
Cris| 1.29.10 @ 6:17AM
The first foreign crisis Obama had taken a clear position on, the
well publicized Honduras drama was alarmingly revealing to those
who thought Obama was just a nice guy who talked a little too
much.
Big Java| 1.29.10 @ 7:51AM
Viva Honduras! Viva Liberty!
RNB| 1.29.10 @ 11:52AM
-- and the AP continues to call it a 'coup.' Some things never
change.
Cliff| 1.29.10 @ 12:55PM
To quote the jihadists: "Allahu Akbar!" (translated: God is
good!)
Patriot| 1.29.10 @ 3:17PM
I hope we have the same courage as the Honduran people. Bravo,
Honduras!!
Robert| 2.10.10 @ 1:04AM
And we see how the AP lies by calling Zelaya's impeachment and
lawful removal from office a "coup", and repeats that lie several
more times in the story. Anyway, good riddance to bad rubbish.
Honduras has demonstrated for us what to do to get rid of a bad
leader before the situation gets to the situation of Chile in
1973.
Lullaby's, Legends and Lies| 1.29.10 @ 5:40AM
Hmm? It looks like our President, backed the wrong horse again, and so did Hugo Chavez. There's still hope for us yet.
Cris| 1.29.10 @ 6:17AM
The first foreign crisis Obama had taken a clear position on, the well publicized Honduras drama was alarmingly revealing to those who thought Obama was just a nice guy who talked a little too much.
Big Java| 1.29.10 @ 7:51AM
Viva Honduras! Viva Liberty!
RNB| 1.29.10 @ 11:52AM
-- and the AP continues to call it a 'coup.' Some things never change.
Cliff| 1.29.10 @ 12:55PM
To quote the jihadists: "Allahu Akbar!" (translated: God is good!)
Patriot| 1.29.10 @ 3:17PM
I hope we have the same courage as the Honduran people. Bravo, Honduras!!
Robert| 2.10.10 @ 1:04AM
And we see how the AP lies by calling Zelaya's impeachment and lawful removal from office a "coup", and repeats that lie several more times in the story. Anyway, good riddance to bad rubbish. Honduras has demonstrated for us what to do to get rid of a bad leader before the situation gets to the situation of Chile in 1973.