QUITO, Ecuador – South American presidents say they will not recognize any leader elected while Honduras’ coup-installed regime is in power and they have reiterated a call for the immediate return of ousted President Manuel Zelaya.
Chilean President Michelle Bachelet announced the group’s position Monday on the first day of a meeting of the Union of South American Nations, or Unasur.
Bachelet handed over the presidency of Unasur to Ecuadoran President Rafael Correa, who called for Zelaya’s “immediate and unconditional” return to power in Honduras.
The presidents plan to sign a declaration on the Honduran crisis later Monday.
Zelaya was pushed out of the Central American country’s presidency in a June 28 coup.
