Ousted Honduras President Zelaya in his words: 'for this they do a coup d'etat--because of a question'

At a press conference held in the San Jose airport in Costa Rica upon his arrival in that country, ousted Honduras President Manuel Zelaya described his ordeal as he was kidnapped from his residence early this morning and put aboard a plane "without knowing where we were going."

"This was about a question on (whether or not) they wanted to be asked the question over the elections," he said referring to the contested referendum that was to take place today until the coup derailed Zelaya's plans. "And for this they do a coup d'etat--because of a question."

"Imagine if I had proposed an economic reform...imagine if I had proposed an important social reform for the country...they would've executed me right there."

Zelaya is not asking for political asylum.

"I want to return to my country," he said. "I'm the president of the Honduran people, and I expect the support of the democrats, oday there's no doubt of democracy in Honduras. The people are on the streets and many places."

Zelaya called for his supporters to use non-violent methods to defend their rights.

"I call them to (No.) 1, be calm, but (No.) 2, to defend the rights of our society...to defend the people's rights ourselves, in a peaceful resistance, with no violence, seeking civil disobedience methods...," he said.

"I expect the support of all of America, of the U.S....to recbuild and restore the right of the Honduran people to always be the people who choose the president."

Sunday night, Zelaya left for Mangua, Nicaragua, where he will meet with Venezuela President Hugo Chavez and Ecuador President Rafael Correa, among other area chiefs.

The people talk, too

Outside the presidential palace, protesters were agitated:



<--"They carried out a coup d'etat! They're illegal! The people wanted to be asked. The people...we were anxious to go to the polls."




"The troops--we'll see if they dare to fire at the people," a man right outside the gates told reporters. "Because it's the people who will restore the president to his presidential seat."-->




<-- "A coup d'etat in Honduras! The military has gone back to the 80s!"

Sources: YouTube
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