Honduras

The de facto Honduran government relaxed curbs on protests and media on Oct. 19 but toughened criticism of ousted President Manuel Zelaya as talks to end a three-month political crisis stalled. Talks to resolve the crisis sparked by Central America's first coup in more than a decade sputtered with both sides stuck on the question of whether Zelaya can return to the presidency ahead of a November election. Zelaya's camp said it would not return to the debating table until the de facto leadership produces a more serious proposal for a solution. A failure to restore Zelaya to office could put the November election at risk if foreign governments who have condemned the coup refuse to recognize the result. (Reuters)