"Doubts cloud Honduras result; International reaction mixed to rancher’s win" by Alexandra Olson, Associated Press | December 1, 2009
TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras - US Ambassador Hugo Llorens called the elections “a great celebration of democracy’’ and assured yesterday that the US would work with Lobo.
But the US State Department also said negotiations should continue to establish a unity government until Lobo takes office Jan. 27. Under a US-brokered pact, Honduran lawmakers will vote tomorrow on whether Zelaya should be restored as head of that government.
Restore a lame-duck?
“Significant work remains to be done to restore democratic and constitutional order in Honduras,’’ State Department spokesman Ian Kelly said. Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, Brazil’s president, said his nation will not rethink its rejection of the election because that might encourage coups in other nations. From the Brazilian Embassy, where he has been living since slipping back into Honduras in late September from his forced exile, Zelaya disputed the official numbers. He said his information from polling places indicated two-thirds of voters stayed home, which he insisted meant the election had no legitimacy.
The debate over whether Honduras should hold the election without first restoring Zelaya to his office overshadowed the campaign....
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