Honduras: Zelaya Outfoxed by Interim Government

(Ex?) President of Honduras Manuel Zelaya angrily declared the accord that might have returned him to power "dead" yesterday after a deadline passed without his reinstatement. Last week, both sides signed an agreement brokered by the USA which would have allowed the Honduran Congress to vote on his reinstatement. In exchange, the international community would recognize the upcoming November elections. Zelaya signed, apparently because he had a back-room deal in place to secure the congressional votes he needed. Unfortunately, he didn't read the fine print. The agreement states that Congress must first ask the Supreme Court for its opinion, then vote, but no timetable is given. It also states that a "unity" government must be in place by Thursday, November 5. Zelaya took this to mean that Congress must vote by then, but the two provisions are apparently legally unrelated. So the November 5 deadline passed without Zelaya nominating anyone to the unity government, as he was angry that Congress (which does not want him back) was dragging its heels asking the Supreme Court (which wants him back even less) for its opinion. Meanwhile, the unity government was set up as interim leaders innocently claimed that they had to do it and since they heard nothing from Zelaya, they did it without him. So now, the interim government has followed the letter of the agreement it signed, but has left Zelaya out of the unity government. Additionally, there appears to be nothing to force the Congress and Supreme Court to meet any time soon, which will allow them to "run out the clock" until a new election. If Zelaya is reinstated after a general election, his power will be negligible with an incumbent set to take over in a question of weeks.