Ousted Honduran leader's plane barred

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By Nicholas Kralev

A weeklong crisis over who governs Honduras entered a new phase Sunday night when the interim government prevented ousted President Manuel Zelaya from landing in the country.

The Associated Press reported that the Venezuelan plane carrying Mr. Zelaya could not land because the runway was blocked by military vehicles and soldiers.

He flew to El Salvador after a stop in Nicaragua and vowed to try again to return home Monday or Tuesday.

Earlier Sunday, the Obama administration said it welcomed an offer by Mr. Zelaya's de facto replacement to negotiate with the Organization of American States (OAS).

A senior administration official said in a conference call organized by the State Department that the offer by the interim government, headed by Roberto Micheletti, was a "product" of the OAS' decision to suspend Honduras' membership late Saturday. The U.S. official spoke on the condition of anonymity because of the sensitive nature of the subject.

The official said the suspension would come at a "considerable cost" for the Central American country both diplomatically and economically because Honduras relies heavily on trade and other cooperation with neighboring countries.

The Obama administration has suggested that it would cut off its $95 million in annual aid to Honduras if Mr. Zelaya is not allowed to complete his term, which was due to end in January.

However, the interim government's foreign minister, Enrique Ortez, told reporters Sunday that Honduras would not permit "the return to power of Manuel Zelaya; that is not negotiable," Reuters news agency reported.

Mr. Zelaya had sought to return home, accompanied by U.N. General Assembly President Miguel D'Escoto Brockmann, a leftist Nicaraguan priest and a former foreign minister.