Unrest in Honduras

Thousands of ousted President Manuel Zelaya’s supporters gathered at the Tegucigalpa airport awaiting his flight, which was eventually not allowed to land. Acting Honduran President Roberto Micheletti said he was appointing a delegation to reach out to the OAS, which does not recognize him as chief executive.  (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times)

Hundreds of soldiers and riot police surrounded the airport in an effort to hold off Zelaya supporters and prevent the ousted president’s return. A Zelaya supporter holds the national flag as riot police line the runway, on which the army positioned tanks.  (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times)

Unable to land, the plane carrying ousted President Manuel Zelaya flies over the airport as his supporters watch. It ultimately diverted to Nicaragua. The U.S. said it was putting a pause on its non-urgent aid to Honduras.  (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times)

A Zelaya supporter waves the national flag at the airport in Tegucigalpa. Some protesters sought to surge past forces onto the airport grounds. All commercial flights had been canceled  (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times)

Thousands of supporters of ousted President Manuel Zelaya march to the airport in Tegucigalpa, where they were hoping their leader would return. Zelaya says he will return to Honduras on Sunday. It was the largest crowd of Zelaya supporters in a week of rallies.  (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times)

The Honduran Army maintains control as thousands of Zelaya supporters march to the Tegucigalpa airport.  (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times)

Riot police block the entrance to the airport in Tegucigalpa, the capital of Honduras, where thousands of Zelaya supporters had marched in hopes that the ousted president would return. The march remained peaceful.  (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times)

Thousands of supporters of the new government, lead by Roberto Micheletti, gathered for a rally at the presidential palace in Tegucigalpa, the capital. Ousted President Manuel Zelaya is scheduled to return to Honduras the country over the weekend.  (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times)

Supporters of ousted President Manuel Zelaya also marched in Tegucigalpa as the Honduran army maintained control. Despite some progress, Honduras remains a country largely run by a small elite, where 70% of the population lives in poverty.  (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times)

Zelaya’s supporters march in the streets of Tegucigalpa. Zelaya insists on returning to Honduras to finish out the last six months of his term; the new president, Roberto Micheletti, says Zelaya will be arrested if he sets foot in the country.  (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times)

Honduran riot police and army were out in force keeping the peace during political rallies by both sides of the political aisle. There was no violence. Much of the rhetoric that has surfaced is a throwback to the past, where the “peace” that the conservative elite speaks of and promotes means, to the left, submission, and where they are worlds apart on what “democracy” means.  (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times)

Supporters of President Manuel Zelaya march in Tegucigalpa as the army looks on. The secretary general of the Organization of American States, Jose Miguel Insulza, flew into the Honduran capital to press for Zelaya’s return but faced a brick wall.  (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times)

Pro-Zelaya protesters confront Honduran police. Demonstrations in favor of Zelaya get scant mention in the Honduran media and accounts usually focus on “vandalism,” the painting of slogans on walls.  (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times)

The Honduran army maintained calm in the capital, Tegucigalpa, as people rallied on both sides. A group of middle-aged women who support the new government waved flags at soldiers guarding the march and cried, “Long live the army forces!”  (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times)

Pro-coup marchers rally in the capital. One group of youths carried an effigy of Zelaya in prison stripes.  (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times)

Supporters of the new government rally in Tegucigalpa. Honduran media, newspapers and television, most of which are controlled by a handful of big businessmen, give lavish coverage to demonstrations against Zelaya and in favor of the man congress named to replace him, Roberto Micheletti.  (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times)