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Q+A - Honduran rivals reach deal on crisis but now what?

Sun Nov 1, 2009 11:11pm IST
 
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REUTERS - Honduras is on the verge of ending a four-month political crisis after rival camps cut a deal that could return ousted President Manuel Zelaya to power and earn international support for a Nov. 29 election.

Buckling under pressure from U.S. diplomats, negotiators for Zelaya and the de facto leader Roberto Micheletti who replaced him, agreed to put an end to Central America's worst political turmoil in two decades.

Here are some questions and answers about the agreement:

WHAT DID THE TWO SIDES AGREE ON?

The deal leaves it up to the Honduran Congress to decide whether Zelaya, toppled in a June 28 coup, can be restored to serve the last few months of his term but legislators will wait for an opinion from the Supreme Court.

The main points are based on an earlier proposal by Costa Rican President Oscar Arias. It creates a national unity government to be formed by Nov. 5, invites foreign observers to guarantee free and fair elections and forms a truth commission to investigate the events of recent months.

It asks foreign governments to reverse punitive measures, like the suspension of aid and travel visas, after Honduras was isolated to put pressure on the coup leaders.

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