4:26am UK, Monday July 06, 2009

At least one man was shot dead and 30 others were injured as soldiers stopped the ousted Honduras president from landing in the country.

 

A supporter of the ousted president looks at soldiers on the airfield

Manuel Zelaya was kept from landing at the main Honduras airport because the runway was blocked by military vehicles.

Soldiers clashed with thousands of Zelaya’s supporters at the airport.

Some reports suggested two people had been killed.

The exiled leader’s Venezuelan pilot circled around the airport and decided not to risk a crash.

Zelaya instead landed in Nicaragua on his way to El Salvador, and vowed to try again this week.

He wants to return to power despite all branches of the government lining up against him.

He was forced to leave his house in his pyjamas last week after the military surrounded his home.

“I am the commander of the armed forces, elected by the people, and I ask the armed forces to comply with the order to open the airport so that there is no problem in landing and embracing with my people,” Zelaya said from the plane.

“Today I feel like I have sufficient spiritual strength, blessed with the blood of Christ, to be able to arrive there and raise the crucifix.”

But interim President Roberto Micheletti insisted on preventing the plane from landing, and said he won’t negotiate until “things return to normal.”

“We will be here until the country calms down,” Micheletti said.

“We are the authentic representatives of the people.”

Micheletti alleged that Nicaragua is moving troops in an attempt at psychological intimidation, and warned them not to cross into Honduras, “because we’re ready to defend our border.”

Violence broke out among the huge crowd surrounding the airport, with at least one man killed.

He was shot in the head from inside the airport as people tried to break through a security fence, according to an Associated Press photographer at the scene.

At least 30 people were treated for injuries, the Red Cross said, after security forces fired warning shots and tear gas.

Honduras’ new government has vowed to arrest Zelaya for 18 alleged criminal acts including treason and failing to implement more than 80 laws approved by Congress since taking office in 2006.

Zelaya also refused to comply with a Supreme Court ruling against his planned referendum on whether to hold an assembly to consider changing the constitution.