Non-Subscriber Extract
Honduras dismisses military chief amid political chaos
26 June 2009
Zelaya dismissed General Romeo Vásquez Velásquez and accepted Ángel Edmundo Orellana Mercado's resignation, claiming that it was a response to "crisis generated by certain sectors that have promoted destabilisation and chaos". In addition to the dismissal of Váquez, the heads of the army, air force and navy also resigned. The move came a day after Congress approved a law on public referenda that hindered Zelaya's attempts to hold a plebiscite on plans to allow his re-election. Zelaya is currently not constitutionally permitted to stand for re-election.
Political and social tension is rapidly building in Honduras, including within the president's own Liberal Party. A march of several tens of thousands of people against Zelaya's re-election plans took place in the second city of San Pedro Sula on 23 June, although political opposition to Zelaya - who has allied Honduras to the ALBA socialist-oriented bloc of Latin American countries led by Venezuela - is offset by significant support from many left-wing social, community and union groups.