Venenzuela, October 17: Negotiators have pressed ahead with talks on ending a political crisis in Honduras, even as a succession of deadlines come and go.
A deadline set by ousted president Manual Zelaya for concluding the crisis talks was extended twice but the talks between representatives of the de facto government of Roberto Micheletti and the ousted president continued past the latest one.
The issue of Zelaya’s return to office remains the main sticking point in the negotiations to end the crisis which has polarized and isolated the impoverished Central American nation.
The two sides sought agreement on whether the Supreme Court or the Congress should decide on Zelaya’s reinstatement, until elections are held and a new president takes office in January.
Negotiators have said they now agree on most points of a deal based on an accord proposed by the Costa Rican President Oscar Arias.
Those include the creation of a unity government, and requirements that Zelaya drops his plans to rewrite the constitution which sparked the crisis, and that November 29 polls be held on schedule.
—–Agencies