Deposed President of Honduras Manuel Zelaya is studying a proposal from Honduran business leaders which could bring him back to power and end the country's crisis.
The leader of the influential National Industry Chamber has proposed that 3,000 UN peacekeepers or troops from conservative-governed countries be sent to Honduras to ensure that if Zelaya is restored to the presidency, he respects an international mediator's proposal that his powers be strictly limited.
The plan is the strongest sign yet that business leaders who have staunchly backed the June 28 coup could be open to reinstating Mr Zelaya. The idea surfaced days after the President secretly entered Honduras from exile and took refuge in the Brazilian Embassy, a move that has increasingly put the interim government on the defensive.
Mr Zelaya said it was "good sign" that "conservative sectors of the country are analyzing a proposal" that includes his resumption of the presidency.
"We will make the respective analysis," Zelaya said in an interview with Channel 11. "We hope to enter into talks with those who are making this proposal in the next hours."
Interim President Roberto Micheletti has remained firmly opposed to allowing Mr Zelaya back in office. His government has seen deepening cracks among its supporters, including congressional leaders who criticised an emergency decree issued Sunday suspending civil liberties.
Mr Micheletti gave ground on Monday, saying said he would accept congressional calls for him to reverse the decree.
However, the emergency order appeared to remains in place and two broadcasters critical of the coup remained closed, although one began transmitting over the Internet, and police faced off with about 500 demonstrators who sat in the middle of a street after officers blocked them from marching for a second straight day.
Legislators have made clear Congress will revoke the decree if the government does not, Rigoberto Chang, a congressman with the conservative National Party, said yesterday. Congress has the power to lift or modify the decree.
AP