Zelaya's FM presses Congress for immediate presidential restitution

TEGUCIGALPA, Nov. 4 (Xinhua) -- The foreign minister of ousted Honduran President Manuel Zelaya on Wednesday urged the National Congress to restore Zelaya to power by Thursday.

Patricia Rodas told a press conference that the de facto government intended to delay or not to implement the Tegucigalpa-San Jose Agreement, which was signed on Friday and foresees Zelaya's immediate restitution.

Earlier in the day, the Verification Commission of the agreement ruled out the possibility of immediate restitution, saying that everything would be done "step by step."

Rodas said that Honduras could restore constitutional order only if the Congress endorsed the restitution, since Zelaya was the one chosen by the Honduran people through constitutional procedures for a four-year presidency.

He also called on the Honduran people to reject the establishment of a government "not presided over by President Zelaya."

"President Zelaya continues staying in the Brazilian embassy ... and he will continue leading the Honduran resistance if he is not restored by Thursday," Rodas added.

Zelaya's foreign minister also demanded that U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton explain the statement made by U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Thomas Shannon, who said on Tuesday that Washington would recognize the result of Nov. 29 elections, no matter if Zelaya was restituted or not.