Honduran interim government vows to cling to power

TEGUCIGALPA, July 20 (Xinhua) -- The post-coup government in Honduras vowed Monday to stay in power until the planned presidential election in November, after Costa Rica's mediation efforts ended with no breakthrough.

Roberto Micheletti, former congress speaker who was appointed president hours after Manuel Zelaya was ousted, admitted the interim government had been under great international pressure.

"We will not bow to (the pressure) under any circumstance," said Micheletti, adding his government would ensure the presidential election be held on Nov. 29.

He said his de facto government had confidence in its delegation, which had taken part in two rounds of negotiations with Zelaya under the leadership of Nobel peace laureate Costa Rican President Oscar Arias.

Micheletti said the San Jose mediation talks could proceed on conditions that Zelaya, "who has broken the Republic's constitution not once but various times," does not return to Honduras.

He said he had called U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Sunday, requesting Washington to send an observer in response to rumors of heavy civilian deaths in the aftermath of the coup.

Zelaya's supporters staged a peaceful demonstration in front of the congress against Micheletti assuming power after the military coup on June 28.

Meanwhile, teachers who have been demanding Zelaya's reinstatement have agreed to go back to work three days a week, while pursuing protest action the rest of the week.

Delegations representing Zelaya and the post-coup government failed to reach any agreement on Sunday after the second round of mediation talks in the Costa Rican capital, San Jose.

Arias had come up with seven proposals to break the deadlock, including a unity government led by

Zelaya, earlier elections and general amnesty for crimes before and after the coup.

The proposals were immediately turned down by Micheletti, who refused to enter any reconciliation government led by Zelaya, saying the deposed president would be seized at once if he set foot on the Honduran soil.

Zelaya's delegation insisted, he must return to power and rule the country until his term ends in January 2010.

Rixi Moncada, spokeswoman for Zelaya, on Sunday called the mediation a "failure" and said they would not resume mediation talks with "the coup-mongers."

Arias, who won the 1987 Nobel Peace Prize for his role in ending the Central American civil wars, lamented the hard-line stand of both camps and vowed to convince Micheletti within 72 hours.

However, 24 hours have passed, and the de facto government in Honduras hasn't shown any sign in softening its stance.

Analysts have warned against possible civil war in the already impoverished country, adding that unsatisfactory handling of the coup could lead to similar uprisings in other Latin American countries.