Honduran crisis in deadlock as post-coup gov't unwilling to reinstate ousted president

TEGUCIGALPA, July 3 (Xinhua) -- The ongoing political crisis in Honduras has reached an impasse as the post-coup government is unwilling to accept the mediation of the Organization of American States (OAS) to reinstate ousted President Manuel Zelaya.

OAS Secretary-General Jose Miguel Insulza, who arrived here on Friday to mediate for the reinstatement of Zelaya, was quoted by local media on Friday evening as saying that Honduras' interim government did not want to restore the ousted president.

"Unfortunately ... the conditions are not there for Zelaya's return," Insulza told a news conference after talks with officials in the country, adding the OAS would continue to recognize Zelaya.

The OAS does not officially recognize the post-coup government and has given Honduras until Saturday noon to reinstate Zelaya or face expulsion.

Insulza told the news conference that the OAS would decide on Saturday whether to suspend Honduras' membership from the regional organization.

The OAS chief said he would immediately recommend the suspension of Honduras from the regional group due to its post-coup rulers' refusal to reinstate Zelaya.

Earlier on Friday, Enrique Ortez Colindres, the foreign minister of the post-coup government, told media that the government would not negotiate with the OAS.

"We have a very firm position that we do not negotiate Honduras' sovereignty," Ortez said.

Ortez said Insulza had implicitly recognized the government by visiting the nation.

"From the moment he arrived in Honduras, he was already speaking to the Honduras government and this servant of the government," said Ortez.

"The world knows Insulza is in Honduras and under the protection of Roberto Micheletti's government," he added.

Micheletti took power on Sunday just hours after Zelaya was seized from his bed by hundreds of heavily armed soldiers and forced to board a plane to Costa Rica.

Ortez on Friday repeated that Micheletti would not be willing to step down.

The Micheletti government has also said that previously scheduled elections will go ahead on Nov. 29 and that Micheletti will hand over power to a new president on Jan. 27.

Meanwhile, according to earlier reports, Zelaya left El Salvador Friday night after a short visit there.