OAS chief says sanctions likely in Honduras

By WILL WEISSERT and BERT WILKINSON
Associated Press
2009-07-03 03:21 AM

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Opponents of ousted President Manuel Zelaya hold candles and flags of Honduras during a protest in front of the local United Nations office in Tegucigalpa, Wednesday, July 1, 2009. Honduras' interim leader, Roberto Micheletti, warned that the only way ousted President Manuel Zelaya will return to office is through a foreign invasion but a potential showdown was postponed when Zelaya delayed his plans to return to Honduras.(AP Photo/Eduardo Verdugo)

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Opponents of ousted President Manuel Zelaya place candles on the sidewalk during a protest in front of the local United Nations office in Tegucigalpa, Wednesday, July 1, 2009. Honduras' interim leader, Roberto Micheletti, warned that the only way ousted President Manuel Zelaya will return to office is through a foreign invasion but a potential showdown was postponed when Zelaya delayed his plans to return to Honduras. Sign reads: "We want Peace".(AP Photo/Eduardo Verdugo)

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Supporters of ousted President Manuel Zelaya shout at army soldiers guarding a government building during a protest in Tegucigalpa, Wednesday, July 1, 2009. Honduras' interim leader, Roberto Micheletti, warned that the only way ousted President Zelaya will return to office is through a foreign invasion but a potential showdown was postponed when Zelaya delayed his plans to return to Honduras.(AP Photo/Esteban Felix)

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A soldier rubs his eyes as supporters of ousted Honduras' President Manuel Zelaya shout slogans during a march through downtown Tegucigalpa, Thursday July 2, 2009. The Organization of American States, OAS, said it will suspend Honduras if Zelaya isn't back in office by Saturday. Honduras' Interim President Roberto Micheletti said he will not back down under international pressure, arguing that Zelaya was legally removed on orders from the nation's Supreme Court. (AP Photo/Eduardo Verdugo)

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Supporters of Honduras' ousted President Manuel Zelaya stands in front of army soldiers during a protest in downtown Tegucigalpa, Thursday, July 2, 2009. The sign reads in Spanish "President Manuel Zelaya." (AP Photo/Dario Lopez-Mills)

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A top diplomat said Thursday he is heading to Honduras to demand the return of the president toppled at gunpoint _ a mission he said is likely to meet rejection, bringing diplomatic and economic punishment for the impoverished Central American nation.

The head of the Organization of American States, Jose Miguel Insulza, said he plans to travel to Honduras on Friday to insist on restoration of President Manuel Zelaya, who was ousted in a coup on Sunday.

"I will do everything I can. But I think it will be very hard to turn things around in a couple of days," Insulza said at a summit of Caribbean leaders in Georgetown, Guyana. "We are not going to Honduras to negotiate. We are going to Honduras to ask them to change what they have been doing."

The OAS says it will suspend Honduras if Zelaya isn't back in office by Saturday. Interim President Roberto Micheletti says he will not back down under international pressure, arguing that Zelaya was legally removed on orders from the nation's Supreme Court.

Insulza said the sanctions that could be imposed over the weekend could block international aid.

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Wilkinson reported from Georgetown, Guyana.