Roberto Micheletti

TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras - Authorities yesterday lifted a curfew imposed since the ousting of President Manuel Zelaya two weeks ago - a sign the interim government is trying to restore normality to life in the crisis-gripped country. In a nationally broadcast announcement, the interim government said the curfew had reached its objective to restore calm and curb crime. The administration of Roberto Micheletti imposed the curfew after soldiers escorted Zelaya out of the country at gunpoint on June 28, plunging Honduras into political turmoil.

TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras - They can’t both be right. Ousted Honduran President Manuel Zelaya says a deal that could have returned him to power is defunct. Roberto Micheletti, who took power after a coup, says the same deal has been successfully accomplished. The Obama administration, caught in the middle of a power struggle in this tiny Central American nation, was urgently pressing yesterday for the survival of an accord it hailed as “a historic victory for democracy.’’ “No, it’s not dead, but maybe sleeping for the time being,’’ said State Department press...

TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras - The interim Honduran government yesterday revoked an emergency decree that had prohibited large street protests and limited other civil liberties after the return of Manuel Zelaya, the ousted president. The decree, which resulted in dozens of arrests and the closing of two pro-Zelaya media outlets, “has been completely revoked,’’ said the interim president, Roberto Micheletti, at a news conference with US Representative Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, a Republican from Florida.

TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras - Honduras’s opposing political factions resumed talks yesterday and expressed hope that a deal could be reached soon to end the power crisis that has paralyzed the country since a coup four months ago. The two sides returned to the negotiating table a day after visiting US diplomats urged both factions to be more flexible and find a solution before previously scheduled presidential elections looming in November. The international community has threatened not to recognize the vote if deposed President Manuel Zelaya is not reinstated.

WASHINGTON - The Obama administration cut all nonhumanitarian aid to Honduras yesterday over the ouster of President Manuel Zelaya, making permanent a suspension of US aid imposed after he was deposed in June. The State Department made the announcement as Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton was meeting with Zelaya. Spokesman Ian Kelly did not say how much assistance would be cut but officials have said previously that more than $200 million is at stake. Kelly said it affected “a broad range of assistance to the government of Honduras.’’ “The secretary of state has...

TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras - Diplomats from around the hemisphere flew into Honduras yesterday and told the coup- imposed government to reinstate President Manuel Zelaya and restore democracy to the impoverished Central American country. “We are not here to create a debate. We are here to find concrete solutions to a situation that cannot be prolonged,’’ Jose Miguel Insulza, the secretary general of the Organization of American States, said as talks began in the capital. Zelaya gave the negotiators an ultimatum, calling for the...

TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras - A top diplomat said yesterday that he is heading to Honduras to demand the return of the president toppled at gunpoint, a mission he said is likely to meet rejection, bringing diplomatic and economic punishment for the impoverished Central American nation. The head of the Organization of American States, José Miguel Insulza, said he plans to travel to Honduras today to demand the restoration of President Manuel Zelaya, who was ousted in a coup Sunday. “I will do everything I can,’’ Insulza said at a summit of...

TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras - They can’t both be right. Ousted Honduran President Manuel Zelaya says a deal that could have returned him to power is defunct. Roberto Micheletti, who took power after a coup, says the same deal has been successfully accomplished. The Obama administration, caught in the middle of a power struggle in this tiny Central American nation, was urgently pressing yesterday for the survival of an accord it hailed as “a historic victory for democracy.’’ “No, it’s not dead, but maybe sleeping for...

WASHINGTON - Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton plans to meet with the deposed Honduran president, Manuel Zelaya, this week as the Obama administration weighs responses to his ouster. The talks planned for today would be the administration’s highest-level contact with Zelaya since he was overthrown in a coup eight days ago. On Sunday, he failed in an attempt to return to Honduras and the country’s political crisis deepened. Zelaya met with two senior US diplomats in Washington on Sunday after the Organization of American States...

TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras - Honduras’s opposing political factions resumed talks yesterday and expressed hope that a deal could be reached soon to end the power crisis that has paralyzed the country since a coup four months ago. The two sides returned to the negotiating table a day after visiting US diplomats urged both factions to be more flexible and find a solution before previously scheduled presidential elections looming in November. The international community has threatened not to recognize the vote if deposed President Manuel Zelaya is not reinstated.

TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras - Diplomats from around the hemisphere flew into Honduras yesterday and told the coup- imposed government to reinstate President Manuel Zelaya and restore democracy to the impoverished Central American country. “We are not here to create a debate. We are here to find concrete solutions to a situation that cannot be prolonged,’’ Jose Miguel Insulza, the secretary general of the Organization of American States, said as talks began in the capital. Zelaya gave the negotiators an ultimatum, calling for the postponement of Nov. 29 presidential...

TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras - The interim Honduran government yesterday revoked an emergency decree that had prohibited large street protests and limited other civil liberties after the return of Manuel Zelaya, the ousted president. The decree, which resulted in dozens of arrests and the closing of two pro-Zelaya media outlets, “has been completely revoked,’’ said the interim president, Roberto Micheletti, at a news conference with US Representative Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, a Republican from Florida.

TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras - The coup-installed president of Honduras backed down yesterday from an escalating standoff with protesters and suggested he would restore civil liberties and reopen dissident television and radio stations by the end of the week. Riot police ringed supporters of the ousted president, Manuel Zelaya, who gathered for a large-scale protest march, setting off a daylong standoff. The government of the interim president, Roberto Micheletti, declared the march illegal, sent soldiers to silence dissident broadcasters, and suspended civil...

WASHINGTON - The Obama administration cut all nonhumanitarian aid to Honduras yesterday over the ouster of President Manuel Zelaya, making permanent a suspension of US aid imposed after he was deposed in June. The State Department made the announcement as Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton was meeting with Zelaya. Spokesman Ian Kelly did not say how much assistance would be cut but officials have said previously that more than $200 million is at stake. Kelly said it affected “a broad range of assistance to the government of Honduras.’’ ...

TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras - A leading candidate for the Honduras presidency distanced himself yesterday from the overthrow of Manuel Zelaya and said sending him abroad was a mistake, while clashes broke out between police and supporters of the ousted president. The comments by Elvin Santos add to cracks in the once-solid backing among the country’s power structure for the June 28 removal of Zelaya, though officials so far have rejected international demands to let him return to the presidency.

SAN JOSE, Costa Rica - Hopes for a quick resolution to the political crisis in Honduras faded yesterday when its interim government balked at a proposal for a national unity government headed by President Manuel Zelaya and the exiled leaders’ delegation threatened to abandon talks. Enrique Flores, a negotiator for Zelaya in talks in Costa Rica’s capital, said his side accepted “in principle’’ a mediator’s proposal to end the standoff over a coup, but added that the interim government of Roberto Micheletti had rejected the first point of...

TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras - A leading candidate for the Honduras presidency distanced himself yesterday from the overthrow of Manuel Zelaya and said sending him abroad was a mistake, while clashes broke out between police and supporters of the ousted president. The comments by Elvin Santos add to cracks in the once-solid backing among the country’s power structure for the June 28 removal of Zelaya, though officials so far have rejected international demands to let him return to the presidency.

SAN JOSE, Costa Rica - Hopes for a quick resolution to the political crisis in Honduras faded yesterday when its interim government balked at a proposal for a national unity government headed by President Manuel Zelaya and the exiled leaders’ delegation threatened to abandon talks. Enrique Flores, a negotiator for Zelaya in talks in Costa Rica’s capital, said his side accepted “in principle’’ a mediator’s proposal to end the standoff over a coup, but added that the interim government of Roberto Micheletti had rejected the first point of...

TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras - Authorities yesterday lifted a curfew imposed since the ousting of President Manuel Zelaya two weeks ago - a sign the interim government is trying to restore normality to life in the crisis-gripped country. In a nationally broadcast announcement, the interim government said the curfew had reached its objective to restore calm and curb crime. The administration of Roberto Micheletti imposed the curfew after soldiers escorted Zelaya out of the country at gunpoint on June 28, plunging Honduras into political turmoil.

WASHINGTON - Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton plans to meet with the deposed Honduran president, Manuel Zelaya, this week as the Obama administration weighs responses to his ouster. The talks planned for today would be the administration’s highest-level contact with Zelaya since he was overthrown in a coup eight days ago. On Sunday, he failed in an attempt to return to Honduras and the country’s political crisis deepened. Zelaya met with two senior US diplomats in Washington on Sunday after the Organization of American States suspended Honduras for its role in...