Honduras Barricades Zelaya, Cuts Off Water, Electricity

Security forces in Honduras barricaded ousted president Manuel Zelaya inside the Brazilian embassy in Tegucigalpa overnight, cutting off water, electricity, and telephone service to the building. Zelaya and about 70 other people are enduring a de facto siege, reports the Guardian; troops are stationed on nearby rooftops, speakers are blasting high-pitched noise at the building, and soldiers have set up a three-mile perimeter after yesterday's violent scenes that left about 20 people injured.

Zelaya sneaked into the country on Monday and addressed supporters from the embassy balcony, but violence broke out after authorities tried to disperse the crowd and impose a curfew. Inside the building are Zelaya relatives and aides, journalists, and a few Brazilian diplomats. They have a diesel-powered generator and cell phones are still working. In Brazil, President Lula said that his country would honor Zelaya's "international right" to refuge, adding, "We do not expect the coup leaders to touch the Brazilian embassy. We expect them to negotiate." (More Honduras stories.)