Ousted Honduran President Manuel Zelaya has reportedly returned to his country, taking refuge inside the Brazilian embassy in Tegucigalpa, from where he called for dialogue and for resistance leaders to converge on the capital. "I cannot give details, but I'm here," Zelaya told Channel 36 TV by telephone announcing his arrival Sept. 21. De facto President Roberto Micheletti denied that Zelaya was back. Honduran authorities have threatened to arrest him if he returns.

Zelaya told Channel 36 he was "here for the restoration of democracy, to call for dialogue." Iinitial reports that he was in a UN building in Tegucigalpa sparked spontaneous gatherings there by his supporters, but the reports were denied by a local UN representative.

Zelaya's claim that he is in the Brazilian embassy is supported by his wife Xiomara Castro, embassy officials, and Brazilian Foreign Minister Celso Amorim.

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez said Zelaya had travelled overland for two days to return to Honduras, "risking his life with four companions" to reach the capital. (BBC News, Honduras Laboral, Sept. 21)

See our last post on Honduras.