Brazil urges UN to intervene over Honduras standoff

Brazil’s government asked the United Nations Security Council to convene an emergency meeting over a standoff in Honduras with the nation’s deposed president taking refuge in the Brazilian Embassy.

The official Agencia Brasil news agency said Brazil’s UN ambassador, Maria Luiza Viotti, urged the council to guarantee the safety of the embassy and ousted Honduran President Manuel Zelaya.

Ms Viotti sent a letter asking for the council meeting after baton-wielding soldiers used tear gas and water cannons yesterday to chase away thousands of Mr Zelaya’s supporters who were demonstrating outside the embassy.

Mr Zelaya and 70 friends and relatives are trapped inside.