Honduras coup: troops deployed to oversee election
Protesters arrested and patriotic messages broadcast as de facto government looks to cement overthrow of Manuel Zelaya
* guardian.co.uk, Friday 27 November 2009 18.34 GMT -
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/nov/27/honduras-election-troops-deployed-zelayaThousands of soldiers have been deployed across Honduras to oversee a controversial election which will cement the overthrow of President Manuel Zelaya.
The de facto government has militarised the capital, Tegucigalpa, and other cities to deter pro-Zelaya protests and ensure that Central America's first coup since the end of the cold war prevails.
The authorities blanketed media with patriotic footage of army manouevres and football matches – Honduras recently qualified for the World Cup – to try to stir passion for what it termed an "electoral fiesta".
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Security forces have suppressed dissent by beating and arresting hundreds of Zelaya supporters in recent weeks, leaving an edgy calm. A state of emergency has been declared for the vote and 5,000 army reservists mobilised.
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