UN General Assembly condemns coup in Honduras

The U.N. General Assembly on Tuesday unanimously condemned the military coup in Honduras and demanded President Manuel Zelaya's immediate return to power, a decision the ousted Honduran leader called "historic."

The world body adopted a resolution by acclamation, calling on all 192 U.N. member states not to recognize any government in Honduras other than Zelaya's.

Zelaya, who was forced into exile in Costa Rica after soldiers stormed his palace early Sunday, told reporters after the vote that he will return home on Thursday with the president of the U.N. General Assembly, the head of the Organization of American States and the presidents of Argentina and Ecuador.

On the day of his arrest, Zelaya had defied the country's Supreme Court by calling a referendum on constitutional change that opponents worried would lead to a Venezuela-style socialist state. Under the constitution, he is allowed one four-year term.

"I am not going to convene a constitutional assembly, and if I was offered the possibility of remaining in power, I would not do it," Zelaya said when queried about changing the constitution. "I am going to fulfill my four years. I am going to fight to have the four years respected because it's part of our law."

When his term ends on Jan. 27, he said, he will return to his previous life as a rancher.

Zelaya, who has received wide international support, said he wasn't afraid to return to Honduras despite a threat from the country's new president, Roberto Micheletti, to arrest him on charges of treason.

Micheletti insists that Zelaya was legally removed by the courts and Congress for violating Honduras' constitution - allegedly to extend his rule.

"I am going to return the same way as I've always returned, as a citizen and as the president," Zelaya said. "I have always said that anyone who was afraid should not become a politician."

He said his supporters and enemies will be there and the military will have to drop its opposition.

"When I come, the people are going to say ... commander in chief we are at your orders - and the military will have to rectify. There is no other possibility," Zelaya said.

He conceded, however, that the only "guarantee" against his arrest is that the new government sees "what they have provoked" - paralysis in the country and the withdrawal of ambassadors from Latin America and Europe as well as representatives of international lending institutions.

"There is no recognition by anyone. They are the only ones that recognize themselves," Zelaya said. "They have been summarily rejected."

"Now these people will have to change and respect," he said.

In his 50-minute speech to the General Assembly, Zelaya described the military actions as "a brutal coup d'etat" and the work of "a small group of usurpers" that carried out "an act of aggression attacking the democratic will of the people."

"The resolution that the United Nations has just adopted unanimously ... expresses the indignation of the people of Honduras and of people worldwide," Zelaya began.

"This resolution is historic. It is significant. And it will empower every last citizen of this world to continue with these great conquests of humankind," he said.

General Assembly President Miguel D'Escoto Brockmann, who has used many occasions to needle the U.S. and other Western powers, gaveled approval of the resolution and then led applause after noting that the U.S., Canada and other countries had signed on as co-sponsors.

The resolution condemns the coup "that has interrupted the democratic and constitutional order and the legitimate exercise of power in Honduras, and resulted in the removal of the democratically elected president."

It demands "the immediate and unconditional restoration" of Zelaya's government and calls on all 192 U.N. member states "to recognize no government other than that of the constitutional president."

The resolution backs regional efforts to resolve the crisis.

It also expresses deep concern at "the acts of violence against diplomatic personnel" in Honduras and grave concern at security problems that endanger citizens and foreigners alike.

Unlike Security Council resolutions, General Assembly resolutions are not legally binding, but they do reflect the views of the international community.

It is rare for the General Assembly to hold a special session on a military coup in a member state. But D'Escoto, a leftist Nicaraguan priest and former foreign minister who will accompany Zelaya to Honduras, has used the yearlong post to address political issues more often the preserve of the Security Council. His presidency ends in September.

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Associated Press Writer John Heilprin contributed to this report from the United Nations.