US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Friday hailed as "historic" an agreement seeking to end four months of political crisis in Honduras and pave the way to presidential elections.She spoke shortly after Honduras's de facto leader Roberto Micheletti announced that he had agreed to reinstate President Manuel Zelaya, who was ousted in a military-led coup in June.Pending approval from lawmakers, the deal signed by Micheletti would return Zelaya to the presidency and allow the formation of a coalition government ahead of a planned presidential election on November 29.Clinton also extended congratulations to Costa Rican President Oscar Arias, the Organization of American States (OAS), Brazil and Mexico for their mediating roles, and highlighted the shuttle diplomacy of US envoys.Negotiators for Zelaya and Micheletti returned to the table on Thursday, as security forces again used batons and tear gas against pro-Zelaya protesters.The United States, European Union and International Monetary Fund applied aid freezes to impoverished Honduras after the June 28 coup.The United Nations and the OAS have said they will not monitor next month's polls until normality is restored.
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Friday hailed as "historic" an agreement seeking to end four months of political crisis in Honduras and pave the way to presidential elections.She spoke shortly after Honduras's de facto leader Roberto Micheletti announced that he had agreed to reinstate President Manuel Zelaya, who was ousted in a military-led coup in June.Pending approval from lawmakers, the deal signed by Micheletti would return Zelaya to the presidency and allow the formation of a coalition government ahead of a planned presidential election on November 29.Clinton also extended congratulations to Costa Rican President Oscar Arias, the Organization of American States (OAS), Brazil and Mexico for their mediating roles, and highlighted the shuttle diplomacy of US envoys.Negotiators for Zelaya and Micheletti returned to the table on Thursday, as security forces again used batons and tear gas against pro-Zelaya protesters.The United States, European Union and International Monetary Fund applied aid freezes to impoverished Honduras after the June 28 coup.The United Nations and the OAS have said they will not monitor next month's polls until normality is restored.
