Honduras Talks End With No Agreement

Milton Jimenez (l), member of the delegation of ousted Honduras' President Manuel Zelaya, talks to Costa Rica's President Oscar Arias after negotiations San Jose, Costa Rica, 11 Jul 2009Talks between the ousted and interim governments of Honduras have ended, with no solution in sight.

Representativesof toppled President Manuel Zelaya and interim President RobertoMicheletti failed to reach an agreement Friday during their second dayof talks in Costa Rica.

Costa Rican President Oscar Arias is mediating the negotiations. He said the two sides have agreed to meet again.

Friday'stalks took place one day after President Arias met separately at hishome with Mr. Zelaya and Mr. Micheletti, who have refused to talktogether.

The Costa Rican leader has been quoted as saying thatresolving the crisis "could possibly take longer than one might haveimagined." After the talks Thursday, the two rivals continued tomaintain their unconditional right to lead Honduras.

The UnitedStates supports Mr. Zelaya and has refused to recognize the interimgovernment, but is supporting the Costa Rica negotiations.

VenezuelanPresident Hugo Chavez has criticized the talks and the Costa Ricanpresident's decision to meet with Mr. Micheletti, referring to him as a"usurper."  

Mr. Chavez' close socialist ally, former Cubanleader Fidel Castro, also has made his views known. In an articlepublished late Friday, Mr. Castro warned that Mr. Zelaya must bereturned to power or Latin America could be swept by a wave of militarycoups. He attributed the threat to right-wing military leaders trainedby the United States.

Mr. Zelaya is one of several leftist leaders in Latin America who have become allies of President Chavez and Mr. Castro.

Thecaretaker government has accused Mr. Zelaya of illegally trying tochange the constitution in order to extend his term. The issue hasdeeply divided the country, where supporters of both sides have heldcompeting demonstrations.

Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP and Reuters.