[HNA] Zelaya in the U.S. by Christmas?

[Sergio Reyes]

US envoy visits Zelaya at Brazilian embassy
            
Sun Dec 20, 1:25 am ET            

TEGUCIGALPA (AFP) – 
US Ambassador to Honduras Hugo Llorens visited deposed President Manuel Zelaya as part of a bid to find a solution to the political crisis gripping
the impoverished Central American nation, an official said.
                        
Zelaya has been holed up at the Brazilian embassy in Tegucigalpa, where he returned in September after a brief exile following his June 28 military-backed ouster.
                        
"Hugo Llorens came to the embassy and told Zelaya he would travel to
the United States for Christmas. Steps to resolve the crisis will
follow," Zelaya advisor Rasel Tome told AFP.
                        
"Efforts are ongoing at the Central American level and in the Dominican Republican for a dialogue in a neutral environment."
                        
Honduras held elections last month won by Porfirio Lobo, who is slated
to replace Zelaya and the interim regime in January, when the deposed
leader's term officially ends.
                        
Washington backed an agreement in the Honduran crisis that called for
Zelaya to be reinstated before the November 29 vote. The pact was not
honored, but US support for Zelaya has cooled, with the United States
now insisting his reinstatement is an internal matter.
                        
De facto leader Roberto Micheletti
said Zelaya could only leave the country on condition he give up his
claims to the presidency for good, thus thwarting an attempt at
dialogue last week between the deposed leader and Lobo set to take
place in Santo Domingo.
                        
Lobo has called for an "amnesty" of all those involved in the coup, and
voiced hope that Micheletti would step down before he is sworn into
office next month.