Honduran Coup Leaders Travel to USA

Havana, July 8, (PL).- Honduran de facto government representatives traveled to the United States to meet with US politicians on a visit organized by Republican senator John McCain.

Granma daily reported that McCain, former US presidential candidate, known for his tough stance against Venezuela, Bolivia, and other countries in the region, would sponsor on Tuesday a press conference by the Honduran coup leaders at the national Press Club in Washington.

The delegation, composed of members of Honduras national Congress, representatives of the private sector and ex members of the Judiciary, has the objective of justifying the coup d’état in that central American country.

A report by the Spanish EFE news agency confirmed the presence of these pro-coup faction members in Washington and that the press conference was held, in which Roberto Flores, ex Honduran ambassador to the United States, called the coup against Manuel Zelaya a constitutional solution.

Flores explained that the commission would be in the US capital until Friday and will meet some legislators like democratic leader Eliot Engel, republican congressman Lincoln Diaz Balart and democratic congresswoman Gabrielle Gifford.

John McCain is the head of a board of directors of the International Republican Institute, an entity considered the international force of the US Republican Party which was essential in the coup against Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez in 2002.

It has worked in Honduras in the last year with funds of over $1.2 million by the National Foundation for Democracy, to influence political parties and "support initiatives to implement political stances during the 2009 campaigns."