US President Donald Trump on Friday (Nov 28) threatened to cut US funding for Honduras if his preferred candidate, Nasry “Tito” Asfura, loses in the upcoming presidential elections. He also pardoned a convicted former president, Juan Orlando Hernandez. The major intervention in the country’s politics came days ahead of the elections, which are set to take place on Sunday.“If Tito Asfura wins for President of Honduras, because the United States has so much confidence in him, his Policies, and what he will do for the Great People of Honduras, we will be very supportive,” Trump wrote in a post on his Truth Social platform. “If he doesn’t win, the United States will not be throwing good money after bad, because a wrong Leader can only bring catastrophic results to a country, no matter which country it is.”He continued to praise Asfura, saying that he “will be a Great President, and the United States will work closely with him in order to ensure the success, with all of its potential, of Honduras!”Trump also announced granting a pardon to Hernandez. He said, “Additionally, I will be granting a Full and Complete Pardon to Former President Juan Orlando Hernandez who has been, according to many people that I greatly respect, treated very harshly and unfairly.” Hernandez was convicted of drug trafficking charges and sentenced to 45 years in prison by a US court last year.The US president further stated, “This cannot be allowed to happen, especially now, after Tito Asfura wins the Election, when Honduras will be on its way to Great Political and Financial Success. VOTE FOR TITO ASFURA FOR PRESIDENT, AND CONGRATULATIONS TO JUAN ORLANDO HERNANDEZ ON YOUR UPCOMING PARDON. Thank you for your attention to this matter. MAKE HONDURAS GREAT AGAIN!”Asfura, 67, the former mayor of the Honduran capital and construction magnate, is running in a tight race against a leftist lawyer and a fellow right-wing TV host in the Sunday election.<h2>What was Hernandez convicted of?</h2>Former president Hernandez served two terms from 2014 to 2022, before being extradited to the US weeks after leaving office. In March 2024, a jury in New York convicted him of facilitating the smuggling of tons of cocaine, primarily from Venezuela and Colombia, to the United States through his country since 2004.Following his sentencing last year, Biden’s attorney general Merrick Garland said that Hernandez had “abused his power to support one of the largest and most violent drug trafficking conspiracies in the world.” On the other hand, Trump has claimed that Hernandez was treated “very harshly and unfairly.”

In March 2024, a jury in New York convicted Hernandez of facilitating the smuggling of tons of cocaine, primarily from Venezuela and Colombia, to the United States through his country since 2004.

US President Donald Trump on Friday (Nov 28) threatened to cut US funding for Honduras if his preferred candidate, Nasry “Tito” Asfura, loses in the upcoming presidential elections. He also pardoned a convicted former president, Juan Orlando Hernandez. The major intervention in the country’s politics came days ahead of the elections, which are set to take place on Sunday. “If Tito Asfura wins for President of Honduras, because the United States has so much confidence in him, his Policies, and what he will do for the Great People of Honduras, we will be very supportive,” Trump wrote in a post on his Truth Social platform. “If he doesn’t win, the United States will not be throwing good money after bad, because a wrong Leader can only bring catastrophic results to a country, no matter which country it is.” He continued to praise Asfura, saying that he “will be a Great President, and the United States will work closely with him in order to ensure the success, with all of its potential, of Honduras!” Trump also announced granting a pardon to Hernandez. He said, “Additionally, I will be granting a Full and Complete Pardon to Former President Juan Orlando Hernandez who has been, according to many people that I greatly respect, treated very harshly and unfairly.” Hernandez was convicted of drug trafficking charges and sentenced to 45 years in prison by a US court last year. The US president further stated, “This cannot be allowed to happen, especially now, after Tito Asfura wins the Election, when Honduras will be on its way to Great Political and Financial Success. VOTE FOR TITO ASFURA FOR PRESIDENT, AND CONGRATULATIONS TO JUAN ORLANDO HERNANDEZ ON YOUR UPCOMING PARDON. Thank you for your attention to this matter. MAKE HONDURAS GREAT AGAIN!” Asfura, 67, the former mayor of the Honduran capital and construction magnate, is running in a tight race against a leftist lawyer and a fellow right-wing TV host in the Sunday election. What was Hernandez convicted of? Former president Hernandez served two terms from 2014 to 2022, before being extradited to the US weeks after leaving office. In March 2024, a jury in New York convicted him of facilitating the smuggling of tons of cocaine, primarily from Venezuela and Colombia, to the United States through his country since 2004. Following his sentencing last year, Biden’s attorney general Merrick Garland said that Hernandez had “abused his power to support one of the largest and most violent drug trafficking conspiracies in the world.” On the other hand, Trump has claimed that Hernandez was treated “very harshly and unfairly.”

In March 2024, a jury in New York convicted Hernandez of facilitating the smuggling of tons of cocaine, primarily from Venezuela and Colombia, to the United States through his country since 2004.

Is Trump interfering in Honduran elections? Ex-president Juan Orlando Hernandez pardoned, Tito Asfura receives BIG backing

Juan Orlando Hernandez, the former president of Honduras, has been sentenced to 45 years in prison for his conviction on drugs and weapons charges.

US District Judge P. Kevin Castel in a Manhattan federal court on Wednesday (June 26), sentenced 55-year-old Hernandez.&nbsp;

Prosecutors had sought a life sentence, emphasising the seriousness of Hernandez's actions and aiming to deter similar crimes in the future,&nbsp;arguing that it would send a firm message to other politicians who use their power to protect powerful criminal groups.

Also read:&nbsp;<a data-ctorig="https://www.wionews.com/world/judge-grants-us-extradition-request-for-former-honduras-president-463216" data-cturl="https://www.google.com/url?client=internal-element-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;q=https://www.wionews.com/world/judge-grants-us-extradition-request-for-former-honduras-president-463216&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=2ahUKEwi1l8m-jvuGAxUNcWwGHeCiBG8QFnoECAMQAg&amp;usg=AOvVaw15xvHFfotN1VDL6gcXj_t-&amp;arm=e&amp;fexp=72519171,72519168" dir="ltr" href="https://www.wionews.com/world/judge-grants-us-extradition-request-for-former-honduras-president-463216" target="_blank">Judge grants US extradition request for former Honduras president</a>

Prosecutors said Hernandez used drug money to support his political rise and use his influence to help traffickers bring hundreds of thousands of kilogrammes of cocaine into the US.

Hernandez allegedly received millions of dollars in bribe money from drug traffickers in return for military support for the illegal enterprise throughout his time in office, according to the US.

During a two-week trial, prosecutors said Hernandez used the money he received from drug trafficking to bribe officials and manipulate voting results during Honduras’s 2013 and 2017 presidential elections.&nbsp;

Several convicted traffickers testified they bribed Hernandez.

Testifying in his own defence, Hernandez denied accepting bribes from drug cartels.

Meanwhile, his lawyers claimed that the convicted traffickers were seeking revenge for Hernandez’s anti-drug policies.

Notably, a jury convicted him in March of three counts, including conspiring to import cocaine into the US and to use weapons to flood the country with an almost unimaginable quantity of the drug.

Hernandez faced a mandatory minimum sentence of 40 years in prison.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a data-ctorig="https://www.wionews.com/world/honduran-ex-president-to-remain-in-custody-as-us-seeks-extradition-454131" data-cturl="https://www.google.com/url?client=internal-element-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;q=https://www.wionews.com/world/honduran-ex-president-to-remain-in-custody-as-us-seeks-extradition-454131&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=2ahUKEwi1l8m-jvuGAxUNcWwGHeCiBG8QFnoECAkQAg&amp;usg=AOvVaw2Qa9LdyLP1Q9QRpn2Drz63&amp;arm=e&amp;fexp=72519171,72519168" dir="ltr" href="https://www.wionews.com/world/honduran-ex-president-to-remain-in-custody-as-us-seeks-extradition-454131" target="_blank">Honduran ex-president to remain in custody as US seeks extradition</a>

A few weeks after completing his second term, he was arrested in 2022. His brother, Juan Antonio “Tony” Hernandez, also a former Honduran politician, was sentenced in the US to life in prison in 2021&nbsp;on drug trafficking charges.

(With inputs from agencies)

Juan Orlando Hernandez, the former president of Honduras, has been sentenced to 45 years in prison for his conviction on drugs and weapons charges. US District Judge P.

Juan Orlando Hernandez, the former president of Honduras, has been sentenced to 45 years in prison for his conviction on drugs and weapons charges. US District Judge P. Kevin Castel in a Manhattan federal court on Wednesday (June 26), sentenced 55-year-old Hernandez. Prosecutors had sought a life sentence, emphasising the seriousness of Hernandez's actions and aiming to deter similar crimes in the future, arguing that it would send a firm message to other politicians who use their power to protect powerful criminal groups. Also read: Judge grants US extradition request for former Honduras president Prosecutors said Hernandez used drug money to support his political rise and use his influence to help traffickers bring hundreds of thousands of kilogrammes of cocaine into the US. Hernandez allegedly received millions of dollars in bribe money from drug traffickers in return for military support for the illegal enterprise throughout his time in office, according to the US. During a two-week trial, prosecutors said Hernandez used the money he received from drug trafficking to bribe officials and manipulate voting results during Honduras’s 2013 and 2017 presidential elections. Several convicted traffickers testified they bribed Hernandez. Testifying in his own defence, Hernandez denied accepting bribes from drug cartels. Meanwhile, his lawyers claimed that the convicted traffickers were seeking revenge for Hernandez’s anti-drug policies. Notably, a jury convicted him in March of three counts, including conspiring to import cocaine into the US and to use weapons to flood the country with an almost unimaginable quantity of the drug. Hernandez faced a mandatory minimum sentence of 40 years in prison. Also read: Honduran ex-president to remain in custody as US seeks extradition A few weeks after completing his second term, he was arrested in 2022. His brother, Juan Antonio “Tony” Hernandez, also a former Honduran politician, was sentenced in the US to life in prison in 2021 on drug trafficking charges. (With inputs from agencies)

US jails ex-Honduran president for 45 years in drug trafficking case

Lawyers for&nbsp;Honduran&nbsp;ex-president&nbsp;Juan Orlando Hernandez, wanted on drug trafficking charges in the United States, asked Monday that he be granted&nbsp;house&nbsp;arrest&nbsp;while the&nbsp;extradition&nbsp;case against him proceeds, a spokesperson said.

The 53-year-old is accused of having facilitated the smuggling of some 500 tons of drugs -- mainly from Colombia and Venezuela -- to the United States via Honduras since 2004.

In turn, he allegedly received "millions of dollars in bribes... from multiple narcotrafficking organizations in Honduras, Mexico and other places," according to a document from the US embassy in Tegucigalpa.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/in-pics-meet-hondurass-first-woman-president-xiomara-castro-448320">In Pics: Meet Honduras's first woman president Xiomara Castro</a>

Washington requested on February 14 he be extradited to the United States to face charges.

He was arrested and placed in prison at the Special Forces headquarters, in the east of the capital Tegucigalpa.

A judge ruled Hernandez would stay there in preventative detention until a second hearing next month.

But on Monday, Hernandez's defence team requested "the change of detention measure... to his home, under&nbsp;house&nbsp;arrest," Supreme Court spokesman Melvin Duarte said.

The court had said on Twitter the judge had agreed to hear an appeal from the defense team to revoke Hernandez's preventative detention.

The appeal has to be approved by all 15 justices of the Supreme Court.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/honduran-ex-president-to-remain-in-custody-as-us-seeks-extradition-454131">Honduran ex-president to remain in custody as US seeks extradition</a>

In power for eight years until January 27, when leftist Xiomara Castro was sworn in as Honduras's first woman president, Hernandez was taken from his home in Tegucigalpa by&nbsp;Honduran&nbsp;police acting in coordination with US agencies, including the Drug Enforcement Administration.

While the right-wing politician had portrayed himself as an ally of the US war on drugs during his tenure, traffickers caught in the United States claimed to have paid bribes to the president's inner circle.

Hernandez's brother, former&nbsp;Honduran&nbsp;congressman Tony Hernandez, was given a life sentence in the United States in March 2021 for drug trafficking.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on February 7 that "according to multiple, credible media reports," Hernandez "has engaged in significant corruption by committing or facilitating acts of corruption and narco-trafficking and using the proceeds of illicit activity to facilitate political campaigns."

Hernandez denies the claims, which he said were part of a revenge plot by traffickers that his government had captured or extradited to the United States.&nbsp;

His wife, Ana Garcia, appeared Monday before the National Commission on Human Rights to protest against the way her husband was arrested.

"You transmitted all the images of the humiliating and degrading way in which my husband was treated," she told reporters. "The authorities who allowed the use of shackles and chains... exhibited him publicly as a trophy."

But deputy security minister Julissa Villanueva said she had checked Hernandez's prison conditions Monday and did not find "any violation of human rights, cruel or degrading treatment."

Lawyers for Honduran ex-president Juan Orlando Hernandez, wanted on drug trafficking charges in the United States, asked Monday that he be granted house arrest while the extradition case against him proceeds, a spokesperson said.

Lawyers for Honduran ex-president Juan Orlando Hernandez, wanted on drug trafficking charges in the United States, asked Monday that he be granted house arrest while the extradition case against him proceeds, a spokesperson said. The 53-year-old is accused of having facilitated the smuggling of some 500 tons of drugs -- mainly from Colombia and Venezuela -- to the United States via Honduras since 2004. In turn, he allegedly received "millions of dollars in bribes... from multiple narcotrafficking organizations in Honduras, Mexico and other places," according to a document from the US embassy in Tegucigalpa. Also read | In Pics: Meet Honduras's first woman president Xiomara Castro Washington requested on February 14 he be extradited to the United States to face charges. He was arrested and placed in prison at the Special Forces headquarters, in the east of the capital Tegucigalpa. A judge ruled Hernandez would stay there in preventative detention until a second hearing next month. But on Monday, Hernandez's defence team requested "the change of detention measure... to his home, under house arrest," Supreme Court spokesman Melvin Duarte said. The court had said on Twitter the judge had agreed to hear an appeal from the defense team to revoke Hernandez's preventative detention. The appeal has to be approved by all 15 justices of the Supreme Court. Also read | Honduran ex-president to remain in custody as US seeks extradition In power for eight years until January 27, when leftist Xiomara Castro was sworn in as Honduras's first woman president, Hernandez was taken from his home in Tegucigalpa by Honduran police acting in coordination with US agencies, including the Drug Enforcement Administration. While the right-wing politician had portrayed himself as an ally of the US war on drugs during his tenure, traffickers caught in the United States claimed to have paid bribes to the president's inner circle. Hernandez's brother, former Honduran congressman Tony Hernandez, was given a life sentence in the United States in March 2021 for drug trafficking. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on February 7 that "according to multiple, credible media reports," Hernandez "has engaged in significant corruption by committing or facilitating acts of corruption and narco-trafficking and using the proceeds of illicit activity to facilitate political campaigns." Hernandez denies the claims, which he said were part of a revenge plot by traffickers that his government had captured or extradited to the United States. His wife, Ana Garcia, appeared Monday before the National Commission on Human Rights to protest against the way her husband was arrested. "You transmitted all the images of the humiliating and degrading way in which my husband was treated," she told reporters. "The authorities who allowed the use of shackles and chains... exhibited him publicly as a trophy." But deputy security minister Julissa Villanueva said she had checked Hernandez's prison conditions Monday and did not find "any violation of human rights, cruel or degrading treatment."

Former Honduran president asks for house arrest while extradition case against him proceeds

In what may be their country’s most significant elections in more than a decade, Hondurans will head to the polls Sunday to choose a new president, a political contest that has been marred by violence and is being closely watched in Washington.

With issues like violent crime and poverty forcing an ever-increasing number of Hondurans to flee north, candidates are billing the race as a chance to alter the country’s destiny.

But with corruption seemingly ingrained in the highest levels of power, political analysts say the chances of truly transformative change are slim.

Still, a free and fair election in Honduras, despite its many problems, would be significant for Central America, offering a respite from the region’s anti-democratic turn. And the outcome could be consequential for the Biden administration.

Polls are showing a tight race. But if the opposition triumphs, Honduras would elect its first female president.

Here’s what else you need to know about Honduras’ presidential elections.

What’s at stake for Honduras and the United States?

With poverty and violence continuing to plague daily life for most Hondurans, thousands of whom have fled to the United States, many in the country are desperate for change.

After nearly eight years under President Juan Orlando Hernández, whose administration has been marred by corruption allegations, the country’s two major parties are both pledging a clean break.

For the opposition, Sunday’s elections are a chance to regain power for the first time since 2009, when President Manuel Zelaya was ousted in a coup. The left-leaning coalition has vowed to halt the erosion of democratic norms under Hernández.

For the governing National Party, the elections represent a chance to reestablish some legitimacy following years of corrupt governance and widespread irregularities during the last election.

The elections could have far-reaching repercussions in Washington, where President Joe Biden has so far been stymied in two of his most important foreign policy priorities: controlling migration from Central America and combating corruption there.

With the shadow of authoritarianism hanging over neighboring countries, including Nicaragua and El Salvador, a free and fair election could create a small beacon of democratic hope in the region.

Who is running?

Sunday’s contest pits a charismatic mayor from the capital, Tegucigalpa, against the wife of a former president who is running to become the country’s first female head of state.

Nasry Asfura, 63, more popularly known as Papi, which means “Daddy” in Spanish, is a former businessman who has been mayor of Tegucigalpa since 2014. He has also served in Honduras’ National Congress, representing the National Party.

Running under the slogan “Daddy Is Different,” Asfura is trying to set himself apart from Hernández, a member of his party. But Asfura has also faced corruption allegations and been accused of embezzling public funds. The charges, which Asfura denies, have stalled in court.

Asfura has promised to create new jobs and improve the crippled Honduran economy, and his party accuses the opposition of being communists intent on radically transforming the country.

His opponent is Xiomara Castro, who is married to Zelaya, the former leftist president who was deposed in a 2009 military coup. In the wake of the ousting, Castro led a sustained protest movement. Castro, 62, became the leading opposition candidate after a number of political parties coalesced behind her in October.

Castro has promised to establish diplomatic relations with China, loosen Honduras’ restrictive abortion laws and improve the Honduran economy through, among other things, better managing the nation’s $13 billion debt.

Despite the governing party’s efforts to paint her as an ardent communist, Castro has won the endorsement of the Honduran business sector by bringing respected technocrats into her economic team while also appealing to Zelaya’s more leftist supporters.

Why has this campaign been so deadly?

Political violence has long been a staple of Honduran elections, but this year has been particularly bloody, with almost 30 candidates, activists and their relatives killed in the weeks leading up to Sunday’s election.

Deadly attacks on candidates and their supporters more than doubled in 2021 compared with the previous campaign period four years ago, according to the United Nations. According to the National Autonomous University of Honduras, there have been more than 60 cases of political violence this year. In one particularly egregious example, several men entered the home of Olivia Marcela Zúniga Cáceres, a congresswoman, in October and tried to asphyxiate her, local news media reported.

Experts on electoral violence say that the proliferation of organized criminal groups, the lack of access to justice and the attacks on political rivals under the government of Hernández are partly to blame.

And while neither side of the political divide has been spared the violence, activists say that the attacks are more likely to benefit the incumbent party by creating a climate of fear that could keep voters at home.

Are Hondurans abroad participating?

Hondurans abroad, some 740,000 of whom live in the United States, will be watching the election closely, with the outcome likely to affect friends and family at home.

Hondurans in the United States are an important economic force back home, with billions of dollars in remittances accounting for some 20% of the Honduran economy. Many of those in the United States blame the current government for fomenting the violence, corruption and unemployment that has forced thousands to flee.

While Hondurans living overseas are eligible to vote, some in the United States have complained that the new identity cards required to vote by the Honduran government have been difficult to obtain.

In Honduras, too, some 300,000 people have yet to claim their new ID cards, according to local news media reports.

Fewer than 13,000 Hondurans in the United States registered for the IDs, which were supposed to have been delivered last week, according to a Honduran activist who spoke with The New York Times. The Honduran ambassador to the United States acknowledged flaws in the process but denied any political bias.

What can we expect Sunday?

Voting begins at 7 a.m. and ends at 5 p.m. The electoral council is set to announce preliminary results three hours after the polls close, including an estimate of the final results.

With memories of violence and political protests during the 2017 elections still fresh in the minds of many Hondurans, there is widespread fear of unrest and further political instability after the election, and many businesses are shutting down this weekend.

Polls have shown the race growing increasingly tight, with both sides certain of victory. That makes it unlikely that either will concede early, further stoking fears of violence. The 2017 vote was also marred by inconsistencies, and the results remain widely questioned.

The country has since enacted several electoral reforms, but critics say the changes have been insufficient.

In what may be their country’s most significant elections in more than a decade, Hondurans will head to the polls Sunday to choose a new president, a political contest that has been marred by violence and is being closely watched in Washington.

In what may be their country’s most significant elections in more than a decade, Hondurans will head to the polls Sunday to choose a new president, a political contest that has been marred by violence and is being closely watched in Washington. With issues like violent crime and poverty forcing an ever-increasing number of Hondurans to flee north, candidates are billing the race as a chance to alter the country’s destiny. But with corruption seemingly ingrained in the highest levels of power, political analysts say the chances of truly transformative change are slim. Still, a free and fair election in Honduras, despite its many problems, would be significant for Central America, offering a respite from the region’s anti-democratic turn. And the outcome could be consequential for the Biden administration. Polls are showing a tight race. But if the opposition triumphs, Honduras would elect its first female president. Here’s what else you need to know about Honduras’ presidential elections. What’s at stake for Honduras and the United States? With poverty and violence continuing to plague daily life for most Hondurans, thousands of whom have fled to the United States, many in the country are desperate for change. After nearly eight years under President Juan Orlando Hernández, whose administration has been marred by corruption allegations, the country’s two major parties are both pledging a clean break. For the opposition, Sunday’s elections are a chance to regain power for the first time since 2009, when President Manuel Zelaya was ousted in a coup. The left-leaning coalition has vowed to halt the erosion of democratic norms under Hernández. For the governing National Party, the elections represent a chance to reestablish some legitimacy following years of corrupt governance and widespread irregularities during the last election. The elections could have far-reaching repercussions in Washington, where President Joe Biden has so far been stymied in two of his most important foreign policy priorities: controlling migration from Central America and combating corruption there. With the shadow of authoritarianism hanging over neighboring countries, including Nicaragua and El Salvador, a free and fair election could create a small beacon of democratic hope in the region. Who is running? Sunday’s contest pits a charismatic mayor from the capital, Tegucigalpa, against the wife of a former president who is running to become the country’s first female head of state. Nasry Asfura, 63, more popularly known as Papi, which means “Daddy” in Spanish, is a former businessman who has been mayor of Tegucigalpa since 2014. He has also served in Honduras’ National Congress, representing the National Party. Running under the slogan “Daddy Is Different,” Asfura is trying to set himself apart from Hernández, a member of his party. But Asfura has also faced corruption allegations and been accused of embezzling public funds. The charges, which Asfura denies, have stalled in court. Asfura has promised to create new jobs and improve the crippled Honduran economy, and his party accuses the opposition of being communists intent on radically transforming the country. His opponent is Xiomara Castro, who is married to Zelaya, the former leftist president who was deposed in a 2009 military coup. In the wake of the ousting, Castro led a sustained protest movement. Castro, 62, became the leading opposition candidate after a number of political parties coalesced behind her in October. Castro has promised to establish diplomatic relations with China, loosen Honduras’ restrictive abortion laws and improve the Honduran economy through, among other things, better managing the nation’s $13 billion debt. Despite the governing party’s efforts to paint her as an ardent communist, Castro has won the endorsement of the Honduran business sector by bringing respected technocrats into her economic team while also appealing to Zelaya’s more leftist supporters. Why has this campaign been so deadly? Political violence has long been a staple of Honduran elections, but this year has been particularly bloody, with almost 30 candidates, activists and their relatives killed in the weeks leading up to Sunday’s election. Deadly attacks on candidates and their supporters more than doubled in 2021 compared with the previous campaign period four years ago, according to the United Nations. According to the National Autonomous University of Honduras, there have been more than 60 cases of political violence this year. In one particularly egregious example, several men entered the home of Olivia Marcela Zúniga Cáceres, a congresswoman, in October and tried to asphyxiate her, local news media reported. Experts on electoral violence say that the proliferation of organized criminal groups, the lack of access to justice and the attacks on political rivals under the government of Hernández are partly to blame. And while neither side of the political divide has been spared the violence, activists say that the attacks are more likely to benefit the incumbent party by creating a climate of fear that could keep voters at home. Are Hondurans abroad participating? Hondurans abroad, some 740,000 of whom live in the United States, will be watching the election closely, with the outcome likely to affect friends and family at home. Hondurans in the United States are an important economic force back home, with billions of dollars in remittances accounting for some 20% of the Honduran economy. Many of those in the United States blame the current government for fomenting the violence, corruption and unemployment that has forced thousands to flee. While Hondurans living overseas are eligible to vote, some in the United States have complained that the new identity cards required to vote by the Honduran government have been difficult to obtain. In Honduras, too, some 300,000 people have yet to claim their new ID cards, according to local news media reports. Fewer than 13,000 Hondurans in the United States registered for the IDs, which were supposed to have been delivered last week, according to a Honduran activist who spoke with The New York Times. The Honduran ambassador to the United States acknowledged flaws in the process but denied any political bias. What can we expect Sunday? Voting begins at 7 a.m. and ends at 5 p.m. The electoral council is set to announce preliminary results three hours after the polls close, including an estimate of the final results. With memories of violence and political protests during the 2017 elections still fresh in the minds of many Hondurans, there is widespread fear of unrest and further political instability after the election, and many businesses are shutting down this weekend. Polls have shown the race growing increasingly tight, with both sides certain of victory. That makes it unlikely that either will concede early, further stoking fears of violence. The 2017 vote was also marred by inconsistencies, and the results remain widely questioned. The country has since enacted several electoral reforms, but critics say the changes have been insufficient.

What’s at stake in the Honduran presidential election?

The Honduran President,&nbsp;Juan Orlando Hernández, has been accused of accepting bribes from drug traffickers and ordering the country's armed forces to guard a&nbsp;cocaine laboratory and shipments.

US federal prosecutors have filed motions against&nbsp;Hernández and have also submitted evidence claiming he said he wanted to "shove the drugs right up the noses of the gringos by flooding the United States with cocaine".

Also read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/migrant-caravan-sets-off-to-us-from-honduras-risking-new-tensions-348777">Migrant caravan sets off to US from Honduras, risking new tensions</a>

The motions have been filed by the prosecutors in the&nbsp;southern district of New York.&nbsp;Hernández has been referred to as "CC4" or the&nbsp;co-conspirator No4. However, his brother, also a&nbsp;co-conspirator has been specifically named in the motions. His brother's name and his designation as 'President' has made the accusation against&nbsp;Hernández clear.

"By late 2013, the defendant partnered directly with CC4 and high-ranking officials in the Honduran military. At this time, CC4 was pursuing election as the president of Honduras as a member of the Partido Nacional de Honduras (the ‘National Party’)," the motion states.

Also read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/biden-and-mexico-leader-discuss-migration-351076">Biden and Mexico leader discuss migration</a>

Despite the conviction of&nbsp;Juan Antonio Hernández, one of his brothers, in 2019, the President has repeatedly denied all accusations against him. He was accused of accepting more than&nbsp;$1m from the Mexican drug trafficker Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzmán during the 2019 trial, which he denied. The same accusation has been repeated in the recently-filed motions too.

The President, this time, has claimed these accusations are being made by the traffickers as a way to seek&nbsp;vengeance from him after he was 'successful' in clamping down traffickers' operations in the country.

&nbsp;Federal prosecutors have also named several&nbsp;senior military, police, political and business figures in these motions for accepting bribery and laundering money in similar illegal operations.

The Honduran President, Juan Orlando Hernández, has been accused of accepting bribes from drug traffickers and ordering the country's armed forces to guard a cocaine laboratory and shipments.

The Honduran President, Juan Orlando Hernández, has been accused of accepting bribes from drug traffickers and ordering the country's armed forces to guard a cocaine laboratory and shipments. US federal prosecutors have filed motions against Hernández and have also submitted evidence claiming he said he wanted to "shove the drugs right up the noses of the gringos by flooding the United States with cocaine". Also read| Migrant caravan sets off to US from Honduras, risking new tensions The motions have been filed by the prosecutors in the southern district of New York. Hernández has been referred to as "CC4" or the co-conspirator No4. However, his brother, also a co-conspirator has been specifically named in the motions. His brother's name and his designation as 'President' has made the accusation against Hernández clear. "By late 2013, the defendant partnered directly with CC4 and high-ranking officials in the Honduran military. At this time, CC4 was pursuing election as the president of Honduras as a member of the Partido Nacional de Honduras (the ‘National Party’)," the motion states. Also read| Biden and Mexico leader discuss migration Despite the conviction of Juan Antonio Hernández, one of his brothers, in 2019, the President has repeatedly denied all accusations against him. He was accused of accepting more than $1m from the Mexican drug trafficker Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzmán during the 2019 trial, which he denied. The same accusation has been repeated in the recently-filed motions too. The President, this time, has claimed these accusations are being made by the traffickers as a way to seek vengeance from him after he was 'successful' in clamping down traffickers' operations in the country. Federal prosecutors have also named several senior military, police, political and business figures in these motions for accepting bribery and laundering money in similar illegal operations.

Honduras President accused of accepting bribes from drug traffickers

Storm Eta unleashed torrential rains and catastrophic flooding in Central America, killing at least eight in the region, turning city streets into waist-high water channels and stranding scores of people.

Families waded through flooded streets of the northern Honduran city of San Pedro Sula, while cars sat almost submerged in parts of the central Guatemalan city of San Pedro Carcha, television footage, and images posted on social media showed.

"The situation is serious, it's shocking and needs to be dealt with professionally, fast," Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez told HCH television, pointing to reports of people stranded in remote areas or stuck on roofs of flooded homes.

Damage and destruction had spread across the "vast majority" of the country and speedboats and helicopters would be sent to rescue people in inaccessible areas, Hernandez said.

By Thursday morning, authorities confirmed there had been at least six deaths, four of them in Guatemala and two in Honduras. Media in Nicaragua also reported two miners had died in a mudslide. Authorities have not commented on that report.

The fate of dozens of fisherman stranded off Honduras on Tuesday was still uncertain.

One of the most powerful storms to sweep down on Central America in years, Eta struck Nicaragua as a Category 4 hurricane packing winds of 150 miles per hour (241 kph) before weakening as it moved inland and into neighboring Honduras.

By Thursday morning, Eta was a tropical depression moving north-west through Honduras, at 9 miles per hour (14 kph), the US&nbsp;National Hurricane Center said. Heavy rains continued. Its maximum winds had fallen to 30 mph (48 kph).

Across swathes of Nicaragua, Honduras, Guatemala and Costa Rica, high winds and heavy rain have damaged homes, roads and bridges, forcing thousands to take cover in shelters.

One unidentified woman broadcast on Honduran television made a desperate plea for help in a neighborhood of La Lima, a municipality on the southeastern flank of San Pedro Sula.

"I've got five children on the roof of my house and nobody's helping me to get them down," she said.

Eta is forecast to return to sea and regain momentum as a tropical storm, reaching Cuba and southern Florida this weekend, the US&nbsp;National Hurricane Center (NHC) said.

Storm Eta unleashed torrential rains and catastrophic flooding in Central America, killing at least eight in the region, turning city streets into waist-high water channels and stranding scores of people.

Storm Eta unleashed torrential rains and catastrophic flooding in Central America, killing at least eight in the region, turning city streets into waist-high water channels and stranding scores of people. Families waded through flooded streets of the northern Honduran city of San Pedro Sula, while cars sat almost submerged in parts of the central Guatemalan city of San Pedro Carcha, television footage, and images posted on social media showed. "The situation is serious, it's shocking and needs to be dealt with professionally, fast," Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez told HCH television, pointing to reports of people stranded in remote areas or stuck on roofs of flooded homes. Damage and destruction had spread across the "vast majority" of the country and speedboats and helicopters would be sent to rescue people in inaccessible areas, Hernandez said. By Thursday morning, authorities confirmed there had been at least six deaths, four of them in Guatemala and two in Honduras. Media in Nicaragua also reported two miners had died in a mudslide. Authorities have not commented on that report. The fate of dozens of fisherman stranded off Honduras on Tuesday was still uncertain. One of the most powerful storms to sweep down on Central America in years, Eta struck Nicaragua as a Category 4 hurricane packing winds of 150 miles per hour (241 kph) before weakening as it moved inland and into neighboring Honduras. By Thursday morning, Eta was a tropical depression moving north-west through Honduras, at 9 miles per hour (14 kph), the US National Hurricane Center said. Heavy rains continued. Its maximum winds had fallen to 30 mph (48 kph). Across swathes of Nicaragua, Honduras, Guatemala and Costa Rica, high winds and heavy rain have damaged homes, roads and bridges, forcing thousands to take cover in shelters. One unidentified woman broadcast on Honduran television made a desperate plea for help in a neighborhood of La Lima, a municipality on the southeastern flank of San Pedro Sula. "I've got five children on the roof of my house and nobody's helping me to get them down," she said. Eta is forecast to return to sea and regain momentum as a tropical storm, reaching Cuba and southern Florida this weekend, the US National Hurricane Center (NHC) said.

Storm Eta wreaks 'shocking' devastation in Central America, 8 dead

Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez has been diagnosed with the coronavirus, is receiving treatment and will work remotely and through his aides, he said late on Tuesday.

"As president of the nation and a responsible citizen, I want to communicate that during the weekend I started to feel some discomfort and today I was diagnosed as having been infected with COVID-19," Hernandez said in a televised speech.

"They have recommended rest but I will continue working remotely and through my aides."

Hernandez had mild symptoms, started receiving treatment and is feeling better, he added.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/initiatives-taken-by-global-icons-to-combat-coronavirus-pandemic-287487">Initiatives taken by global icons&nbsp;to combat coronavirus pandemic</a>

He will stay in isolation under observation to decide where treatment will continue, as recommended by his doctors, the government said in a statement. He is taking a cocktail of drugs that includes microdacyn, azithromycin, ivermectin and zinc.

His wife and two aides, also diagnosed with the virus, are all being treated.

First lady Ana Garcia de Hernandez is asymptomatic and will self-quarantine at home, the government added.

Honduras has reported 9,656 virus infections and 330 deaths.

Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez has been diagnosed with the coronavirus, is receiving treatment and will work remotely and through his aides, he said late on Tuesday.

Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez has been diagnosed with the coronavirus, is receiving treatment and will work remotely and through his aides, he said late on Tuesday. "As president of the nation and a responsible citizen, I want to communicate that during the weekend I started to feel some discomfort and today I was diagnosed as having been infected with COVID-19," Hernandez said in a televised speech. "They have recommended rest but I will continue working remotely and through my aides." Hernandez had mild symptoms, started receiving treatment and is feeling better, he added. Also read: Initiatives taken by global icons to combat coronavirus pandemic He will stay in isolation under observation to decide where treatment will continue, as recommended by his doctors, the government said in a statement. He is taking a cocktail of drugs that includes microdacyn, azithromycin, ivermectin and zinc. His wife and two aides, also diagnosed with the virus, are all being treated. First lady Ana Garcia de Hernandez is asymptomatic and will self-quarantine at home, the government added. Honduras has reported 9,656 virus infections and 330 deaths.

Honduran president Hernandez diagnosed with coronavirus

A scheme to create 20,000 jobs in Honduras has been agreed between the country's president and Mexico's leader in an attempt to stem the flow of <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/pompeo-and-mexican-counterpart-welcome-reduced-flow-of-migrants-237547">migrants toward the United States</a>.

Mexico, which is a stepping stone to the US for many from Central America seeking to escape violence and poverty, has seen a wave of migrants sweep through in the past few months, causing tensions with Washington.

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Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador met his Honduran counterpart Juan Orlando Hernandez in the Mexican state of Veracruz on Saturday to sign an agreement to extend a development program to Honduras, which includes a tree-planting scheme already active in Mexico.

Called "Sowing Life", the scheme pays farmers a small monthly stipend to plant trees and crops. Mexico signed a deal with El Salvador last month to introduce the same project to the Central American state.

Hernandez said the scheme was the "correct path" to boost both country's economies and called for the creation of a "great international coalition for generating huge numbers of jobs" in Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador.

Mexico will support Honduras "to create 20,000 jobs between now and December," said Mexican Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard.

US President Donald Trump had threatened stiff new trade tariffs against the United States' southern neighbour unless it acted decisively to stem the migrant wave. But tensions calmed after Mexico's deployment of thousands of security forces to its borders last month.

The large majority of Central Americans who cross Mexico for the US are from Honduras. Some say they are fleeing persecution by the Hernandez government, having participated in protests after his election.

A scheme to create 20,000 jobs in Honduras has been agreed between the country's president and Mexico's leader in an attempt to stem the flow of migrants toward the United States.

A scheme to create 20,000 jobs in Honduras has been agreed between the country's president and Mexico's leader in an attempt to stem the flow of migrants toward the United States. Mexico, which is a stepping stone to the US for many from Central America seeking to escape violence and poverty, has seen a wave of migrants sweep through in the past few months, causing tensions with Washington. Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador met his Honduran counterpart Juan Orlando Hernandez in the Mexican state of Veracruz on Saturday to sign an agreement to extend a development program to Honduras, which includes a tree-planting scheme already active in Mexico. Called "Sowing Life", the scheme pays farmers a small monthly stipend to plant trees and crops. Mexico signed a deal with El Salvador last month to introduce the same project to the Central American state. Hernandez said the scheme was the "correct path" to boost both country's economies and called for the creation of a "great international coalition for generating huge numbers of jobs" in Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador. Mexico will support Honduras "to create 20,000 jobs between now and December," said Mexican Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard. US President Donald Trump had threatened stiff new trade tariffs against the United States' southern neighbour unless it acted decisively to stem the migrant wave. But tensions calmed after Mexico's deployment of thousands of security forces to its borders last month. The large majority of Central Americans who cross Mexico for the US are from Honduras. Some say they are fleeing persecution by the Hernandez government, having participated in protests after his election.

Mexico, Honduras agree to create 20,000 jobs and stem migration

Thousands of US-bound Honduran migrants remained stranded Saturday after spending the night on a border bridge between Guatemala and Mexico where riot police barred their progress.

Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez said he would meet Saturday with his Guatemalan counterpart Jimmy Morales to discuss the next steps in the crisis, which has triggered escalating anti-immigrant rhetoric from US President Donald Trump.

Hundreds slept in the open on the bridge over the Suchiate River and in the main square of the Guatemalan border town of Tecun Uman.&nbsp;

Hernandez said on Twitter he had asked Guatemalan authorities "to contract land transportation for those who wish to return -- and airlift in the special cases of women, children, the elderly and the sick -- and we will continue with this operation as long as necessary."

More than 300 people have taken up a government offer of a bus ride home to their country, police said.

However, the vast majority have opted to wait on the bridge over the Suchiate River where Mexican authorities insisted they would have to file asylum claims one at a time in order to enter the country.

On Friday, they began letting them through in a trickle -- first women and children, who were ushered onto trucks and taken to shelters.

A surge, then clashes

The caravan of mainly Honduran migrants had surged through a series of police lines and barricades up to the final fence on Mexico's southern border on Friday.

Sections of the crowd hurled rocks and other objects at hundreds of riot police, who responded with rubber bullets and tear gas -- stalling the caravan which left Honduras last Saturday determined to reach the United States.

Several people were injured. Police used tear gas to drive the migrants back and calm was restored.&nbsp;

Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto described the situation as "unprecedented."

Organizers of the caravan said a section of the crowd had confronted the police and spoiled what had been an orderly attempt to cross into Mexico.

Some camped on the bridge "are very aggressive and no longer have patience, they are already desperate because the Mexicans did not open the door to us," said Gina Paola Montes, 21, a humanities student from Honduras university.

Some, like 22-year-old Alex Benitez, paid locals to take him across the river border by raft.&nbsp;

"They promised they will give us a visa but the people are there (on the bridge) since yesterday and they have not given us anything," Benitez said as he waited for friends who were crossing on another raft, made from huge truck tires.

Police officers patrolling the area told AFP that for now there are no plans to move against the migrants crossing by river.

Going home

Some, like 25-year-old Honduran Bryon Rivera, had decided to give up on a long- held dream of a better life in America.

"It is better to go back. It is very hard. There is a lot of disorder," said Rivera, who was hoping to get on a bus back to Honduras laid on by the Guatemalan government.

The soft-spoken 25-year-old said he was travelling with three friends who decided to remain in the caravan, but that for him, the fear of being deported once he reached Mexico was too much.

Overnight, a policeman said 220 Hondurans had begun to return to their country and another 130 were awaiting transport in a local migrant shelter.

The caravan, in some cases comprising entire families -- many with babies -- has braved intense sun and torrential rains by turn since setting out last Saturday from a Honduran border town.

Many have been given food and shelter by Guatemalans along their way.

On Thursday, Trump branded the migrant caravan an "onslaught" and an "assault on our country" in a series of typically fiery tweets.

He threatened to cut aid to the region, deploy the military and close the US-Mexican border if authorities did not stop them.

The migrants are generally fleeing poverty and insecurity in Honduras, where powerful street gangs rule their turf with brutal violence.

With a homicide rate of 43 per 100,000 citizens, Honduras is one of the most violent countries in the world.

Thousands of US-bound Honduran migrants remained stranded Saturday after spending the night on a border bridge between Guatemala and Mexico where riot police barred their progress.

Thousands of US-bound Honduran migrants remained stranded Saturday after spending the night on a border bridge between Guatemala and Mexico where riot police barred their progress. Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez said he would meet Saturday with his Guatemalan counterpart Jimmy Morales to discuss the next steps in the crisis, which has triggered escalating anti-immigrant rhetoric from US President Donald Trump. Hundreds slept in the open on the bridge over the Suchiate River and in the main square of the Guatemalan border town of Tecun Uman. Hernandez said on Twitter he had asked Guatemalan authorities "to contract land transportation for those who wish to return -- and airlift in the special cases of women, children, the elderly and the sick -- and we will continue with this operation as long as necessary." More than 300 people have taken up a government offer of a bus ride home to their country, police said. However, the vast majority have opted to wait on the bridge over the Suchiate River where Mexican authorities insisted they would have to file asylum claims one at a time in order to enter the country. On Friday, they began letting them through in a trickle -- first women and children, who were ushered onto trucks and taken to shelters. A surge, then clashes The caravan of mainly Honduran migrants had surged through a series of police lines and barricades up to the final fence on Mexico's southern border on Friday. Sections of the crowd hurled rocks and other objects at hundreds of riot police, who responded with rubber bullets and tear gas -- stalling the caravan which left Honduras last Saturday determined to reach the United States. Several people were injured. Police used tear gas to drive the migrants back and calm was restored. Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto described the situation as "unprecedented." Organizers of the caravan said a section of the crowd had confronted the police and spoiled what had been an orderly attempt to cross into Mexico. Some camped on the bridge "are very aggressive and no longer have patience, they are already desperate because the Mexicans did not open the door to us," said Gina Paola Montes, 21, a humanities student from Honduras university. Some, like 22-year-old Alex Benitez, paid locals to take him across the river border by raft. "They promised they will give us a visa but the people are there (on the bridge) since yesterday and they have not given us anything," Benitez said as he waited for friends who were crossing on another raft, made from huge truck tires. Police officers patrolling the area told AFP that for now there are no plans to move against the migrants crossing by river. Going home Some, like 25-year-old Honduran Bryon Rivera, had decided to give up on a long- held dream of a better life in America. "It is better to go back. It is very hard. There is a lot of disorder," said Rivera, who was hoping to get on a bus back to Honduras laid on by the Guatemalan government. The soft-spoken 25-year-old said he was travelling with three friends who decided to remain in the caravan, but that for him, the fear of being deported once he reached Mexico was too much. Overnight, a policeman said 220 Hondurans had begun to return to their country and another 130 were awaiting transport in a local migrant shelter. The caravan, in some cases comprising entire families -- many with babies -- has braved intense sun and torrential rains by turn since setting out last Saturday from a Honduran border town. Many have been given food and shelter by Guatemalans along their way. On Thursday, Trump branded the migrant caravan an "onslaught" and an "assault on our country" in a series of typically fiery tweets. He threatened to cut aid to the region, deploy the military and close the US-Mexican border if authorities did not stop them. The migrants are generally fleeing poverty and insecurity in Honduras, where powerful street gangs rule their turf with brutal violence. With a homicide rate of 43 per 100,000 citizens, Honduras is one of the most violent countries in the world.

Thousands of Central American migrants stranded on Mexican border

Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez was declared on Sunday the winner of a heavily disputed presidential election held three weeks ago, despite mounting protests and opposition claims of fraud.

Electoral authorities made the announcement the day that Hernandez&#39;s leftist opponent, Salvador Nasralla, departed for the United States to highlight what he said was ballot tampering in the November 26 poll.

The declaration could deepen a spiral of violence that has occurred since the election, as anti-Hernandez protesters and police have squared off repeatedly.

Police have counted three deaths in the unrest. But the opposition says 20 people have died, and Amnesty International registered 14 fatalities.

The ballot was deeply contentious.

Hernandez, 49, stood for re-election against Nasralla, a 64-year-old former TV presenter, despite a constitutional ban on presidents having more than one term.

His conservative National Party said that rule was scrapped by a 2015 Supreme Court ruling.

But the opposition insists ballots were tampered with after the election, and says unusual breaks in the count that dragged out the tally over more than a week were suspicious.

The leftist opposition alliance said it was not recognizing Hernandez&#39;s win, and called for protests.

International observers also said they noted &quot;irregularities.&quot;The Supreme Electoral Tribunal had previously declined to name a victor, despite saying that its count of the ballots showed a slight margin in favor of Hernandez: 43 percent to 41 per cent for Nasralla.

But it had to do so by a December 26 deadline, or risk the entire election being invalidated.

Nasralla, the candidate of the leftist Opposition Alliance Against the Dictatorship, is standing firm on his claim that he won the election, and that only fraud made it look like Hernandez had the edge.

He is insisting the entire vote be held again, with greater international scrutiny.

Ex-president Manuel Zelaya, part of the opposition alliance, said the armed forces and police should recognize Nasralla as the winner, as he said the Honduran people had.

&quot;This election is null and void; we are not respecting it,&quot; Zelaya told reporters.

On Sunday, Nasralla left for the United States to call attention to the fraud he said was perpetrated.

He was to meet the head of the Organization of American States, Luis Almagro, officials from the US State Department and human rights groups.

The US visit &quot;may be decisive in finding a solution to the crisis brought about by fraud and to restore calm to the nation,&quot; he told journalists in Tegucigalpa before leaving.

Going into the election, the United States gave implicit support to Hernandez, who has presided over a crackdown on vicious gangs that are rampant in Honduras.

The country is beset by violence, poverty and corruption and provides many of the undocumented migrants headed to the United States.

Hernandez himself was in mourning over the death of his 51-year-old sister in an air force helicopter crash on Saturday that also killed five others.

Hilda Hernandez had served as the president&#39;s communications minister.

Electoral authorities made the announcement the day that Hernandez's leftist opponent, Salvador Nasralla, departed for the United States to highlight what he said was ballot tampering in the November 26 poll.

Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez was declared on Sunday the winner of a heavily disputed presidential election held three weeks ago, despite mounting protests and opposition claims of fraud. Electoral authorities made the announcement the day that Hernandez's leftist opponent, Salvador Nasralla, departed for the United States to highlight what he said was ballot tampering in the November 26 poll. The declaration could deepen a spiral of violence that has occurred since the election, as anti-Hernandez protesters and police have squared off repeatedly. Police have counted three deaths in the unrest. But the opposition says 20 people have died, and Amnesty International registered 14 fatalities. The ballot was deeply contentious. Hernandez, 49, stood for re-election against Nasralla, a 64-year-old former TV presenter, despite a constitutional ban on presidents having more than one term. His conservative National Party said that rule was scrapped by a 2015 Supreme Court ruling. But the opposition insists ballots were tampered with after the election, and says unusual breaks in the count that dragged out the tally over more than a week were suspicious. The leftist opposition alliance said it was not recognizing Hernandez's win, and called for protests. International observers also said they noted "irregularities."The Supreme Electoral Tribunal had previously declined to name a victor, despite saying that its count of the ballots showed a slight margin in favor of Hernandez: 43 percent to 41 per cent for Nasralla. But it had to do so by a December 26 deadline, or risk the entire election being invalidated. Nasralla, the candidate of the leftist Opposition Alliance Against the Dictatorship, is standing firm on his claim that he won the election, and that only fraud made it look like Hernandez had the edge. He is insisting the entire vote be held again, with greater international scrutiny. Ex-president Manuel Zelaya, part of the opposition alliance, said the armed forces and police should recognize Nasralla as the winner, as he said the Honduran people had. "This election is null and void; we are not respecting it," Zelaya told reporters. On Sunday, Nasralla left for the United States to call attention to the fraud he said was perpetrated. He was to meet the head of the Organization of American States, Luis Almagro, officials from the US State Department and human rights groups. The US visit "may be decisive in finding a solution to the crisis brought about by fraud and to restore calm to the nation," he told journalists in Tegucigalpa before leaving. Going into the election, the United States gave implicit support to Hernandez, who has presided over a crackdown on vicious gangs that are rampant in Honduras. The country is beset by violence, poverty and corruption and provides many of the undocumented migrants headed to the United States. Hernandez himself was in mourning over the death of his 51-year-old sister in an air force helicopter crash on Saturday that also killed five others. Hilda Hernandez had served as the president's communications minister.

Honduran president Juan Orlando Hernandez declared winner of disputed poll