News stories by Juan Ramón Durán

Talks began Wednesday between delegates of ousted Honduran President Manuel Zelaya and de facto leader Roberto Micheletti, under international observation, to seek a solution to the crisis triggered by the Jun. 28 coup.

The National Resistance Front Against the Coup d'Etat (FRN) in Honduras is carrying out a nationwide consultation among its members to establish its position with respect to the expected talks between ousted President Manuel Zelaya and the de facto government, the movement's leaders said.

The electoral authorities and allies of Honduras' de facto government in Congress have criticised the suspension of key civil liberties, while the top military chief called for talks between de facto President Roberto Micheletti and ousted President Manuel Zelaya, who has been holed up in the Brazilian embassy since early last week.

Thousands of Hondurans flocked to businesses in the capital Wednesday to stock up on food and gas after the de facto government temporarily lifted the curfew in place since ousted President Manuel Zelaya surreptitiously returned to the country on Monday.

Ousted Honduran President Manuel Zelaya said Tuesday that he returned to his country to engage in dialogue to resolve the political crisis triggered by the Jun. 28 coup d'etat, but that the de facto government responded with tear gas and rubber bullets against his supporters.

Ousted President Manuel Zelaya snuck back into Honduras and took refuge Monday in the Brazilian embassy in the capital with the aim of returning to power by means of mass demonstrations and a general strike led by the National Resistance Front Against the Coup d'Etat.

Although the international community has warned that it will not recognise the results of the November elections in Honduras, the de facto government in power since the Jun. 28 coup d'etat says the vote is going ahead.