Ahead of a referendum on plans to change the constitution, troops in Honduras have arrested the president.

The BBC News reports that, "President Manuel Zelaya's secretary said he had been taken to an airbase outside the capital, Tegucigalpa. Mr. Zelaya, elected for a non-renewable four-year-term in January 2006, wanted a vote to extend his term in office."

Due on Sunday, the referendum had been ruled illegal by the supreme Court and was also opposed by members of Mr. Zelaya's own party and Congress.

A correspondent for the Associated Press news agency said he had witnessed dozens of soldiers surround the president's mansion on sunday morning and approximately 60 police guarding the house.

Reuters news agency revealed that two air force fighter jets screamed over the capital.

The arrest occured after President Zelaya defied a court order that he must re-instate Gen. Romeo Vasquez, the chief of the army.

Late on Friday, the president sacked Gen. Vasquez for refusing to assist him in organizing a referendum. Mr. Zelaya also accepted the resignation of the defense minister.

According to the BBC, "in an interview with Spain's El Pais newspaper published on sunday, Mr. Zelaya - an ally of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez - said a planned coup attempt against him had been thwarted after the US refused to back it."

M.Zelaya, a strong supporter of Mr. Chavez, expressed strong gratitutde for President Barack Obama's protection.

He is quoted as saying, "everything was in place for the coup and if the U> embassy had approved it, it would have happened. But they did not. I'm only still here in office thanks to the United States."

An hour before polls were due to open. Mr. Zelaya was arrested.

Mr. Zelaya's supporters and government employees had been distributing ballot boxes and other voting materials throughout the Central American nation.

As of 10 a.m. Sunday Dallas-time, the Obama administration has not yet issued a public statement on Mr. Zelaya's arrest.

To read the entire article from the BBC News, link here:

This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Comments (0)

Comment	smaller | bigger
Name
Write the displayed characters
Subscribe via email (Registered users only) I have read and agree to the Terms of Usage.
	Add Comment