Zelaya's supporters protest martial law

HONDURAS: At least 500 supporters of ousted Honduran President Manuel Zelaya on Thursday protested the martial law imposed by the post-coup government in this Honduran capital.

The demonstration, gathering members of the union and peasants' groups, was staged outside the U.S. embassy, also calling for Zelaya's reinstatement.

Participants told local media that the protest would continue until the martial law and curfew was lifted.

There were also demonstrations outside the capital city.

The post-coup government on Sept. 27 issued a decree, restricting civil liberties and other constitutional rights for 45 days.

Meanwhile in Nicaragua, Zelaya's followers Thursday issued a statement, rejecting any kind of dialogue and the presidential election in November under the current political situation in Honduras.

They accused the de facto government of creating a political climate of persecution, violent dislodges and killings in the country.

Zelaya's followers considered impossible to have a dialogue between the interim government and Zelaya, his relatives and the people inside the Brazilian embassy in Honduras that has been sheltering Zelaya, when they are objects of torture with toxic gases and harassment by the police and military forces from the post-coup authorities.

Zelaya was ousted in a military coup on June 28. On Sep. 21, Zelaya surprised the world when entering Honduras and since then has stayed in the Brazilian embassy in Tegucigalpa.

He said the interim government used toxic gases for forcing him out of the embassy, an accusation denied by the post-coup authorities. TEGUCIGALPA/MANAGUA, Friday, Xinhua