Summit will cause transportation delays

Authorities have deployed additional national police officers and soldiers in preparation for the Bolivian Alternative for the Americas (ALBA) summit at the Government House in Tegucigalpa on 25 August 2008. Honduras will officially become a signatory to the agreement, which is a Venezuela-led initiative to counter neoliberal economic policies in Latin America. Several dignitaries, including Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez and Bolivian President Evo Morales, are scheduled to attend. The ceremony will likely prompt protests, as there is significant opposition to the agreement in the Honduran legislature. Several women's groups plan to protest the presence of Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega, who has been accused of sexual abuse. Some streets will be closed near the Government House, the Presidential House and various media buildings. Travelers should anticipate transportation delays in the downtown area.