The president of Honduras, Manuel Zelaya, was arrested by the military on this morning and taken to Air Force installations, according to his private secretary, Eduardo Enrique Reina, and the local press.

Zelaya was arrested by the military between 5am and 6am. He was in the presidential palace when he was arrested. The official residence of the President is surrounded by approximately 300 soldiers.

The arrest of head of state was about two hours before the “popular consultation” Zelaya called for a vote for constitutional reform, declared illegal by bodies such as Parliament and the Supreme Court.

Little more than an hour later, around 7 am, the transmission of radio was interrupted briefly, but returned to normal after a few minutes.

According to local newspaper “La Prensa”, the president was transported to a unknown military airport and nobody knows his whereabouts. Soldiers are on every street in the capital, but no reports of unrest or riots, according to Radio America.

Zelaya, leftist elected in 2005, it crashed into other segments of government and military leaders on the issue of referendum. He wanted popular support for the convening of a new Constitution within five months. But in truth, it seemed that he wanted to follow in the footsteps of his ally Hugo Chávez.

The Supreme Court of Honduras declared the referendum illegal, and was supported by Congress and the high dome of the Honduran Army. Still Zelaya remained firm in its position.

Via: CNN.