The de facto leader of Honduras should step aside for a week so voters can focus on a November 29 presidential election and resolve the country"s political crisis, the U.S. State Department said Friday. Interim President Roberto Micheletti, who took power after a June coup d"etat ousted President Manuel Zelaya, said in a televised speech Thursday he might step aside between November 25 and December 2. "We welcome that he is going to take a leave of absence and expect its prompt implementation. This will allow some breathing space for the process in Honduras to go forward," spokesman Robert Wood told reporters. Wood said Washington continued to believe that the best way to solve the political crisis was through a deal it brokered in late October that quickly collapsed as rival sides failed to form a unity government. "If we are going to address the questions of restoring democracy, if we are going to deal with the question of reconciliation, the best way to do this is to move forward with the implementation of the accord," Wood said. Zelaya has refused to return to the presidency as part of any negotiated agreement, saying that would legitimize the coup and next week"s presidential election, which he has urged his supporters to boycott. Latin American leaders have called for Zelaya"s immediate reinstatement, but the United States weakened its position recently by saying recognition of the presidential election was not dependent on Zelaya"s return to office.
