US denies Honduras’ Micheletti visa
Interim president’s visa revoked to pressure government into reinstating Zelaya.
No ‘Mr President’
However, Micheletti complained that the letter he received from the state department addressed him as president of Congress, his position prior to Zelaya’s ouster, and not president of Honduras.
“It doesn’t even say ‘Mr President of the Republic’ or anything,” he said.
Micheletti reiterated that “the United States has always been a friend of Honduras and will continue being one forever, in spite of the actions it has taken”.
The interim leader said he was expecting the action and called it “a sign of the pressure that the US government is exerting on our country”.
Relations cut
Washington on Friday revoked the diplomatic and tourist visas for 14 Supreme Court judges, the foreign relations secretary and Honduras’ attorney general, presidential spokeswoman Marcia de Villeda said on Saturday.
Darby Holladay, a US state department spokesman, said on Saturday: “By law we are not allowed to comment on the revocation of visas.”
There was no immediate reaction from Zelaya, who is currently in Nicaragua.
Last week, Washington cut off millions of dollars in aid to the Honduran government in response to Micheletti’s refusal to accept a mediated accord that called for returning Zelaya to power with limited authority until elections set for November.
The accord was brokered by Oscar Arias, the Costa Rican president, who won the 1987 Nobel Peace Prize for his role in helping end Central America’s civil wars.