US validates crime of electoral fraud in Honduras: Opposition leaders

Honduran opposition leaders have strongly denounced the United States for recognizing President Juan Orlando Hernández as winner of a widely disputed election.

Manuel Zelaya Rosales, "Alianza" opposition coordinator and a former president, on Tuesday censured the US State Department's response to the vote, saying it "validates the crime of electoral fraud."

"Lets hold the military and police to account for the murders and the brutal use of violence against our brave people who defend the vote for Alianza and the victory of Salvador Nasralla."

The reaction comes after the US State Department in a statement called on Hondurans to refrain from violent protests.

"The United States notes that Honduras' Supreme Electoral Tribunal has declared incumbent president Juan Orlando Hernández the winner of the November 26 presidential elections," the statement read.

Also speaking at news conference in Washington on Tuesday, opposition candidate Nasralla called on the US not to recognize results announced in his country’s presidential election and to suspend aid until a new vote can be held.

Nasralla accused his opponent of holding on to power illegally after gross fraud in the November 26 election.

The US, which has a large military base in Honduras, is accused of turning a blind eye to political violence and corruption in the country.

The electoral body in Honduras, the Supreme Electoral Tribunal, several times delayed the announcement of the results. Nasralla, who had been initially in the lead, saw his margin collapse with each delay and finally fell behind Hernandez. 

Final results showed the sitting president in the lead only by a razor-thin margin, and Hernandez was officially declared the winner of the elections on Sunday.

The opposition accuses US-friendly Hernandez of stuffing the court with supporters who helped him change the constitution to allow him to seek a second term.

The Organization of American States (OAS) had called for a repeat of the election following the announcement of Hernandez’s win.

Meanwhile, protests have been ongoing on the streets of Honduras since Nasralla’s lead began to dwindle.

On Monday, security forces resorted to water cannon and tear gas to disperse protesters in the capital, Tegucigalpa. At least two people were injured in the clashes.

Rights groups say at least 20 people have been killed by bullet wounds. That figure could not be independently verified.

The poor Central American nation of 8.6 million struggles with unemployment and gang violence.

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