WORLD BRIEFING / HONDURAS

Honduras’ interim leader said he is willing to step down to help end his country’s political crisis, but only if ousted President Manuel Zelaya isn’t allowed to regain power.

Roberto Micheletti, the former congressional leader who was selected by lawmakers to serve out the final six months of Zelaya’s term, presented the offer as a means to end the nearly three-week standoff over Honduras’ military-backed coup. At the same time, he also accused unspecified parties of handing out weapons and planning an armed rebellion.

The interim president said he is willing to leave office “if at some point that decision is needed to bring peace and tranquillity to the country, but without the return, and I stress this, of former President Zelaya.”