NEW GOVERNMENT IN HONDURAS REJECTS DEADLINE

Newly appointed President Roberto Micheletti announced on 2 July 2009 that Honduras will reject a deadline issued by the Organization of American States (OAS) to return the country's former president to power by 4 July. OAS leaders threatened to suspend Honduras from the international group if Micheletti refused to allow former leader Manuel Zelaya to return to the presidency. Micheletti came to power after the Honduran military launched a coup to oust Zelaya on 28 June. Zelaya has been in Panama since his arrest and subsequent release during the coup, and he is expected to return to Honduras after the deadline runs out on 4 July. Honduran military commanders have threatened to arrest Zelaya again if he returns to the country