Court clears Honduran coup leaders

TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras – A Supreme Court judge cleared Honduras’ military commanders Tuesday in the coup that toppled Manuel Zelaya, and hours later lawmakers approved amnesty for the ousted leader and all those involved in his removal.

The two measures – combined with today’s inauguration of a new president, conservative rancher Porfirio Lobo – appeared to spell the last chapter in the bitter political dispute that led to Honduras’ international isolation.

Supreme Court President Jorge Rivera ruled the country’s top generals did not abuse their power in ordering soldiers to escort Zelaya out of the country at gunpoint June 28.

The prosecution’s case did not question Zelaya’s ouster itself – only whether the six members of the Joint Chiefs of Staff went too far in flying him to Costa Rica after he was arrested by soldiers in a dispute over a constitutional referendum.