Western Hemisphere
"If diplomatic isolation does not help restore the constitutional order in Honduras, (the international community) should evaluate other mechanisms, such as a military intervention by the United Nations (UN)," warned President Hugo Chávez on Tuesday, minutes before leaving Managua and travel to Caracas, according to a press release issued by Venezuela's Ministry of Communication and Information (Minci).

"The community of the Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our Americas (ALBA) will be on alert in the next few hours, because if there is any aggression against Zelaya and his delegation, it could open another door. This should prompt, for instance, a military intervention by the United Nations," Chávez said.

Zelaya on Tuesday announced that he would return home on Thursday with José Miguel Inzulza, the Secretary General of the Organization of American States (OAS), and the Presidents of Argentina, Cristina Fernández, and Ecuador, Rafael Correa. However, with the OAS setting an ultimatum for the interim government to back down, on Wednesday Zelaya told reporters he did not expect to return before the weekend.

According to the report broadcasted by state-run Radio Nicaragua, Chávez said that if he had accompanied Zelaya, it would be possible that a well trained sniper fired at him or against the delegation. "Then, I must not go (to Honduras). I would like to go there, but I must not go. One must be cautious," the Venezuelan president insisted.

"I would like to go with 'Mel' (Manuel Zelaya). But I must not go, because (Honduran opposition) says that I am guilty of everything. Then, If I decide to go, they would have an excuse for a violent reaction," Chávez said in Managua, following his participation in a summit of the ALBA.

The Venezuelan leader added that his Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Nicolás Maduro, is "at the disposal of the Honduras president," together with the ousted Honduran Foreign Minister, Patricia Rodas, to be in the delegation.

Translated by Gerardo Cárdenas

María Lilibeth Da Corte
EL UNIVERSAL