Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay and Venezuela are refusing to recognise the outcome of the recent presidential election in Honduras. The countries' presidents say the poll was illegal because it took place without Manual Zelaya, the deposed president, being reinstated. The Honduran Senate had prevented the left-wing president from taking office again.

Mr Zelaya was ousted by the army in June and sent into exile after he attempted to change the constitution to allow him to remain in office for an extended period. He returned secretly to Honduras in September and has since been sheltering in the Brazilian embassy in the capital, Tegucigalpa.

The presidential election was held at the end of November and was won by the centre-right candidate, Porfirio Lobo. The United States and the European Union say the poll represents a first step towards a solution to the political crisis in Honduras.

Mr Lobo is visiting a number of Latin American countries, including Costa Rica and Panama, which support him as new Honduran president, as does Peru. He is calling for an amnesty for those who were involved in the June coup against Mr Zelaya.

Mr Lobo argues the move is needed to put an end once and for all to Honduras' political crisis. He believes, if an amnesty were in place, Mr Zelaya would also be able to leave the Brazilian embassy in Tegucigalpa.
 

photo: pro-Zelaya protester (flickr/codepinkhq)