US welcomes interim Honduran leader's move to brieflly step down

[Louisiana1976]

The United States on Friday welcomed a move by interim Honduran leader Roberto Micheletti to step down briefly, saying it boosted chances for ending the months-long political showdown.

"We welcome that he's going to take a leave of absence," State Department deputy spokesman Robert Wood told reporters.

Wood said the announcement will give "some breathing space" for the process aimed at ending the showdown sparked by a June 28 coup as well as "allow the people of Honduras to focus on the elections," set for November 29.

In the Honduran capital Tegucigalpa, Micheletti said Thursday that he expected to be absent from public functions from November 25 to December 2, in an apparent bid to boost the international legitimacy of the elections.

snip


http://rawstory.com/news/afp/US_welcomes_interim_Honduran_leader_11202009.html