Honduran opposition attacks 'truth' commission

The FNRP, which led demonstrations against last June's military takeover, continues to oppose current President Porfirio Lobo. who was elected in November with the coup leaders' blessing.

It declared that an amnesty for soldiers who deposed former president Manuel Zelaya made a mockery of the commission.

"Lobo's truth commission is intended to clean up the image of the coup and encourage other countries to recognise his illegitimate government," FNRP co-ordinator John Baker announced.

"Lobo, the heir to the coup leaders, wants the commission to whitewash what happened.

"But, make no mistake, such a commission for 'truth' will actually be purely for show," he insisted.

Mr Lobo has appointed former vice-president of Guatemala Eduardo Stein to investigate the events of June 28, when President Zelaya was woken in the night at the presidential palace in Tegucigalpa and taken at gunpoint in pyjamas aboard an airforce plane to Costa Rica.

Mr Zelaya was deposed by the military at the whim of the right-wing congressional leaders, who were afraid of the president's attempt to begin altering the country's constitution.

The FNRP has demanded a constituent assembly to rewrite and democratise the country's constitution, a call that Mr Zelaya has supported.