Condemning the Honduran coup as a throwback to Latin America's ugly history, Costa Rican President Oscar Arias said Tuesday that the country can't have free and fair elections until its de facto government lifts a repressive decree that silenced opposition media and forbade public gatherings.

Speaking at the Americas Conference in Coral Gables, the Nobel Peace Prize winner said he spoke Monday with Honduras' acting President Roberto Micheletti, who assured him that he would withdraw a restrictive decree that suspended some civil rights. But despite Micheletti's promises, the decree issued Sunday remains in place, critical news stations remain shut down, and opponents are worried.

``What kind of democratic elections are these, in which public meetings cannot take place without the authorization of the army?'' Arias said.

``What kind of democratic elections are these, in which the media can be closed for opposing unspecified `government resolutions?'

``Only the most forgetful of people could read this decree without experiencing memories of a terrible Latin American past.''

Arias, who won the Nobel for his work resolving the civil wars in Central America, has served as a mediator in Honduras' three-month political crisis.

He stepped in after Honduran President Manuel Zelaya was forced out of the country at gunpoint because he had insisted on a controversial referendum the courts had ruled illegal.

Zelaya later sneaked back to his country and sought refuge at the Brazilian Embassy in Tegucigalpa, which he refuses to leave until he is restored.

The government installed after his ouster says Zelaya must face treason charges and insists that regularly scheduled elections set for Nov. 29 are the only solution to the political deadlock.

``We are being subjected to curfews every day,'' said Martín Pineda, secretary general of the opposition Democratic Unity Party.

``We don't know if on election day we're going to be allowed to stand in poll lines.''

Arias said the solution can't come from elections alone.

``My message to the candidates is: who wants to be president that is not recognized by the international community?'' Arias said in an interview with The Miami Herald. ``Who wants to be president of a country that turns into a Central American Albania?''

Arias refused to say whether, as president of Costa Rica, he will recognize the election results.

``I'm not the best person to be interviewed,'' Arias said. ``I would lose my credentials as mediator.''

He said he defines June's events as a coup d'etat, even if others want to dress it up as something else because it had the backing of Congress and the military relinquished power immediately.

``A coup dressed in fine silk,'' Arias said, ``is still a coup.''

Arias presided over an agreement that would have allowed Zelaya to return as long as he abandoned plans for the referendum and everyone involved in his ouster got amnesty.

But for Micheletti, Zelaya's return is not a bargaining point. The two men were never willing to look each other in the eye, and Micheletti has not budged an inch since negotiations began in July, Arias said.

Arias also criticized Zelaya, who has given heated speeches from the Brazilian Embassy telling his followers to rise up against an usurper government.

``The only way to have dialogue is conversing like civilized people, not calling for insurrection,'' Arias said.

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