Interim leader offers to resign

TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras – Honduras’ interim leader said Wednesday he is willing to step down to help end his country’s political crisis, but only if ousted President Manuel Zelaya isn’t allowed to regain power.

Roberto Micheletti also accused unspecified groups of handing out weapons and planning an armed rebellion, and his government reinstated an overnight curfew. The move came a day after Zelaya called for an insurrection in Honduras.

Micheletti, the former congressional leader who was selected by lawmakers to serve out the final six months of Zelaya’s term, presented the resignation offer as a means to end the nearly three-week standoff over Honduras’ military-backed coup.

Time is short, Clinton tells Iran

Washington – Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton on Wednesday warned Iran it has only a limited time to accept the Obama administration’s offer for engagement.

In a wide-ranging policy address to the Council on Foreign Relations, Clinton said the administration was “appalled” by Iran’s recent postelection crackdown on protesters. She said the hard-line regime would face new penalties and increasing isolation over its nuclear program and support for extremists unless it soon took up the U.S. overture.

“We remain ready to engage with Iran, but the time for action is now,” she said. “The opportunity will not remain open indefinitely.”