Honduras' interim government gave Brazil a 10-day ultimatum on Sunday to decide what to do with ousted President Manuel Zelaya, who took refuge in the Brazilian Embassy after sneaking back into this Central American nation, AP reported. A spokesman for interim President Roberto Micheletti warned Brazilian authorities to «immediately take measures to ensure that Mr. Zelaya stops using the protection offered by the diplomatic mission to instigate violence in Honduras.» Micheletti didn't specify what he would do after 10 days. He has said previously that he plans to arrest Zelaya, who was deposed in a June 28 coup. Zelaya faces treason and abuse of authority charges for ignoring court orders to drop plans for a referendum on rewriting the constitution. But Micheletti has also said he has no plans to raid the embassy and that Zelaya could leave if Brazil offers him political asylum. Zelaya, who surprised the world by sneaking back into Honduras last week, called on his followers nationwide to mark Monday's three-month anniversary of the coup with a mass march in the capital to demand his reinstatement. Brazil _ like the rest of the international community _ recognizes Zelaya as Honduras' legitimate president, and says it wants to protect him. But Brazil said previously that Zelaya's arrival took embassy officials by surprise, and President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva asked Zelaya «to take care to give no pretext to the coup leaders to engage in violence.» On Tuesday, the day after Zelaya's return, baton-wielding soldiers used tear gas and water cannons to chase away thousands of his supporters outside the embassy in Tegucigalpa, Honduras' capital. Since then, the mission has been surrounded by police and soldiers. Zelaya and about 65 supporters inside accused authorities of temporarily cutting off water and electricity early in the week, and later said the government released an unidentified gas that caused headaches, nosebleeds and nausea. Brazilian Charge d'Affaires Francisco Catunda confirmed that Saturday: «Yes, it was released,» he said in a rare interview outside the building. «One of our officials felt it, felt symptoms.» Catunda added that some people had throat problems, but did not give details. The U.N. Security Council has issued a statement that «called upon the de facto government of Honduras to cease harassing the Brazilian Embassy.» A Honduran rights group, the Committee for the Defense of Human Rights, said Saturday that independent medical personnel entered the embassy and confirmed there were some symptoms. But Zelaya was in good health, they said. Zelaya accused Micheletti's government Sunday of bombarding the embassy with «electromagnetic radiation.» In a statement broadcast by Channel 36 television, Zelaya did not offer any other details, nor specify whether the alleged radiation had hurt anyone. New talks to resolve the dispute began after Zelaya reappeared in Honduras following what he described as a secret, 15-hour journey. Many nations have announced they would send diplomatic representatives back to Honduras to support negotiations. But the Honduran government said Sunday it would not automatically accept ambassadors back from some nations that withdrew their envoys. Countries such as Spain, Mexico, Argentina and Venezuela would have to negotiate re-establishing diplomatic relations with the foreign ministry and reaccredit their diplomatic representatives, the government said. A leader of Zelaya's National Front Against the Coup said a protester died Saturday from complications due to inhaling tear gas when soldiers and police broke up Tuesday's demonstration. Local media reported the woman had asthma. Protesters say 10 people have been killed since the coup, while the government puts the toll at three.
