 "Photo: Fernando Antonio/The Associated Press")
TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras — Police and soldiers are using tear gas outside the Honduran presidential palace to scatter thousands of people protesting a coup that drove President Manuel Zelaya into exile.
Choking protesters are throwing rocks and bottles at the riot forces that are advancing with gas masks and shields.
Shots can be heard but it is not clear whether they are from live ammunition.
Much of the Honduran capital of Tegucigalpa remained calm on Monday, with businesses open.
Leaders from around the world are demanding that Honduras reinstate Zelaya, who was arrested Sunday morning.
The ousted president of Honduras will address the U.N. General Assembly on today at 11 a.m. (Eastern Time), a U.N. official confirmed.
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This AP article is utter garbage, and the fact that the Texan uncritically syndicated it is disgusting. Former President Zelaya attempted to illegally modify the Honduran constitution by referendum, even though the only entity in Honduras with that authority is the congress. Further, in the tinpot dictator tradition seen in Venezuela and elsewhere in the 20th century, the reason for the proposed amendment was to make sure that Zelaya never had to leave office.Calling this a military coup when the action taken by the army was in fulfillment of an order by the highest court in Honduras is propaganda. Zelaya had Hugo Chavez fly in ballots from Venezuela for an unconstitutional referendum. These were taken by the army under the authority of the courts, and the former president had his political allies steal the ballots, which were under guard at a military base. He was going to have his referendum, no matter what the law or anyone else said.The courts, the army, and the congress of Honduras are all in agreement that Zelaya's attempt at a power grab was unconstitutional. As if to underscore the danger posed by the illiberal actions of this one individual, congress has appointed a member of the same political party as Zelaya to be the new president. The problem isn't with the ideology held by Zelaya's party. The problem is that he thought he should be able, as Hugo Chavez is, to run roughshod over all of the limits to his power as president.
Robert
Fools, the military teamed with the Judicial and Legislative branches to uphold their Constitution. Zelaya was attempting to install himself in office beyond the term allowed by law. This was a counter-coup.
