Wife of ousted Honduran president has faith in Costa Rican president's mediation

SAN JOSE, July 8 (Xinhua) -- Xiomara Castro, wife of ousted Honduran President Manuel Zelaya, said on Wednesday that she has faith in the mediation efforts by Costa Rican President Oscar Arias for the current political crisis in Honduras after a military coup.

During an interview with local radio station Radio Monumental, Castro said that Arias' abilities will lead to an agreement in the interest of the Honduran people.

"When hearing that (U.S. Secretary of State) Mrs. Hillary Clinton requested Arias as mediator, it gives me faith because he is an outstanding person in the world and we know that for him the first thing is the democracy, the right a country has to exist and the right we have to live in peace," Castro said.

Castro rejected the idea that presidential elections should be held earlier in Honduras, adding that the solution to the crisis lies with the immediate return of Zelaya to power.

"It is very difficult, they can advance the elections but that does not mean that the crisis will be over, the solution is to restore the Constitutional order," Castro said.

Castro said that the Honduran Army has chased her children and people close to her. She also accused the Honduran interim government led by Roberto Micheletti of harassing and attacking protesters who support Zelaya.