Ousted Honduran Leader Set for US, Clinton Meet

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Source: AFP/The Raw Story

Ousted Honduran President Manuel Zelaya said Monday he would travel later in the evening to Washington where he would hold talks with US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

"We will leave at 19:00 local time (0100 GMT) for Washington for a meeting at the State Department and also a meeting with Secretary Hillary Clinton," Zelaya told journalists in the Nicaraguan capital.

Zelaya said he had spoken to Clinton about a recent resolution from the Organization of American States (OAS) that called for his "immediate and unconditional" reinstatement to office.

On Sunday, one week after he was ousted in a military-backed coup, Zelaya attempted to return to Tegucigalpa, but his plane was prevented from landing by army vehicles strewn across the airport's runway.

His attempt stoked already inflamed tensions on the ground in Honduras, as troops fired tear gas and shot on angry Zelaya supporters trying to break into airport.

Two people were killed in the clashes.

The United States on Monday condemned the violence against demonstrators and urged the interim government and other players to seek a peaceful solution to the crisis.

"We deplore the use of force against demonstrators in Tegucigalpa in recent days," State Department spokesman Ian Kelly said. "We once again call upon the de facto regime and all actors in Honduras to refrain from all acts of violence."

more: http://rawstory.com/news/afp/Ousted_Honduran_leader_set_for_US_C_07062009.html