Honduras: Power-Sharing Government Expected by Nov. 5

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Media reports in Honduras say a power-sharing government between ousted President Manuel Zelaya and interim leader Roberto Micheletti is expected to be in place by November 5.

Honduran officials say they are confident Congress will approve the deal to reinstate Mr. Zelaya, just weeks ahead of the November 29 presidential election. Neither Mr. Zelaya nor Mr. Micheletti will run in the election.

Authorities say a date for the congressional vote on the agreement has not yet been set.

The breakthrough pact came late Thursday with Mr. Micheletti authorizing his negotiating team to sign the agreement, which he said "marks the beginning of the end" of the country's lengthy political crisis.

The Honduran Supreme Court would need to authorize Congress to vote on whether to allow Mr. Zelaya to return to power and serve the remaining three months of his term.

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton hailed the agreement as "historic."

The Organization of American States issued a statement commending Mr. Zelaya and Mr. Micheletti for showing what it called flexibility and patriotic sentiment.

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said he hopes Honduras is now on the path to restoration of democratic, constitutional rule.

Mr. Zelaya was expelled from Honduras by troops June 28, with opponents accusing him of trying to illegally change the constitution to extend his term in office.

The ousted leader secretly returned to the country in September and took refuge at the Brazilian Embassy, where he remains.

The Micheletti government has filed a formal complaint against Brazil with the International Court of Justice in The Hague for sheltering Mr. Zelaya.


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