Morning Brief: Honduras stands alone

Wed, 07/01/2009 - 7:10am

Top story:  Honduras is facing growing international pressure to reinstate ousted President Manuel Zelaya. The Organization of American States has given the country a 72-hour deadline to reinstall the president. The United Nations also voted for a measure condemning the coup which was co-sponsored by the United States. President Barack Obama has called the coup a "terrible precedent" for democracy in the region. 

Acting President Roberto Micheletti is holding strong, saying "no one can make me resign" and vowing that Zelaya could only return through another country invading Honduras and installing him. 

Zelaya had planned to return to Honduras on Thursday, but because of the 72-hour ultimatum, he will not wait until this weekend for what is sure to be a tense showdown with the acting government, which has promised to arrest him if he enters Honduras. In a reversal, Zelaya now says he will not run for reelection or seek to extend his term. 

Under the radar: A trade dispute may be brewing as reports indicate that China will ban the import of U.S. chicken. 

Middle East

Asia

  • The North Korean ship being tailed by the U.S. navy has changed course and seems to be heading back the way it came. 
  • Malaysia has loosened its system of ethnic preferences in hiring. 
  • Thousands of pro-democracy protesters rallied in Hong Kong on the 12th anniversary of Chinese rule. 

Africa

  • At the last minute, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad cancelled an appearance at the African Union summit in Libya.
  • The African Union dropped sanctions on Mauritania, imposed after the country underwent a military coup last August.
  • Niger's main opposition leader was arrested after being accused of plotting a coup. 

Europe

Americas

AFP/Getty Images
Joshua Keating | Permalink | | Comments? Login or register
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US-sponsored coup?

by jgarzik on Wed, 07/01/2009 - 10:25am

The United Nations also voted for a measure condemning the coup which was co-sponsored by the United States.

That sentence needs additional punctuation, or something. I think it can be read as if the US co-sponsored the coup.

(although it is certainly obvious that the US did not sponsor the coup, it is still awkward English, IMO)

Fail

by nquixote on Wed, 07/01/2009 - 9:50am

"This gives the Democrats 60 seats in the senate and the ability to break a veto."

Nope. It takes a 2/3 majority to break a veto. 60 votes is the number needed to stop a filibuster.

60 democrats?

by jgarzik on Wed, 07/01/2009 - 10:28am

Strictly speaking, this does not give the Democrats 60 seats in the US Senate.

That number — 60 — includes two non-Democrat independents that routinely caucus with the Democrats.