23Aug09

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Honduras confines Venezuelan, Argentine diplomats to embasssies

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The interim Honduras government has confined Venezuelan and Argentine diplomats to their embassies in the country and threatened to expel them once they stepped out the gate, the Foreign Ministry said on Saturday, Xinhua reported.

The restriction is a result of the diplomats' refusal to leave Honduras before the Friday deadline set by the interim government.

The ministry said in a statement that police would arrest the diplomats once they left the embassies and deport them afterwards.

Mario Fortin, adviser with the Honduran Foreign Ministry, urged the diplomats to leave the country immediately.

The expulsion order issued on Aug. 18 by the interim government to demand the departure of Argentine diplomats was a response to Argentina's expulsion of Honduran ambassador.

The Venezuelan government also received such an ultimatum, but both countries did not recognize the legitimacy of the post-coup Honduran regime and rejected its expulsion order.

On June 28, a military coup ousted President Zelaya and an interim government led by Roberto Micheletti was established, causing massive demonstrations.

[Source: Trend, Azrbaycan, 23Aug09]

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