Castro condemns Honduras ‘farce’

Cuban leader accuses US of helping to legitimise an “electoral farce” in Honduras.

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Castro said the November election had denied the Honduran people their constitutional rights [Reuters]

“The people of that Latin American nation have had their constitutional rights denied and a usurper government has been imposed with the support of the North American [US] administration, which they’ve attempted to legitimize with an electoral farce.”

“If Raul Castro wants to lecture about democracy, he should start practising it as well”

US state department

Alba, which approved economic sanctions against the de facto Honduran government of Roberto Micheletti, called for international pressure to reject the November 29 Honduran elections won by president-elect Porfirio Lobo.

Zelaya, the ousted Honduran president, secretly slipped back into the country in September and has remained holed up at the heavily-fortified Brazilian embassy ever since.

On Friday he told reporters he would stay there until January 27, when his presidential term was to officially end.

Responding to Castro’s comments, the US state department said in a statement to Al Jazeera that Cuba’s leader was in no position to give lectures about democracy.

“Millions of Hondurans voted in the recent competitive election won by Porfirio Lobo,” the statement said.

“When Raul Castro was named president, there was only one vote that counted – his brother’s. If Raul Castro wants to lecture about democracy, he should start practising it as well.”

Source: Al Jazeera, News Agencies