TEGUCIGALPA -- The interim Honduran government on Monday revoked an emergency decree that prohibited large street protests and limited other civil liberties following the return of ousted Honduran President Manuel Zelaya.

The decree, which resulted in dozens of arrests and the closing of two pro-Zelaya media outlets, ``has been completely revoked,'' Interim President Roberto Micheletti said at a news conference with Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, a Miami Republican.

Honduras' interim leaders issued the emergency order Sept. 27 in response to ``calls for insurrection'' by Zelaya as he sought refuge in the Brazilian Embassy after sneaking back into the country. He remains holed up in the embassy.

CRITICISM

The decree empowered police and soldiers to break up public meetings, arrest people without warrants and restrict the news media.

It drew criticism even from judges and congressional leaders who backed Zelaya's ouster in a June 28 military-backed coup that was condemned by much of the world, including the U.S. government and the United Nations.

Human-rights groups have complained of unjustified arrests and the persecution of protesters, but Micheletti defended the measure to reporters as a legitimate response to an organized campaign against the government ``led'' by Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez.

BACKGROUND

Zelaya was forced from office with the backing of the Honduran Congress and Supreme Court for trying to hold a referendum on rewriting the constitution. His opponents charged he wanted to lift the charter's provision limiting presidents to one term -- an accusation he denies.

With the backing of much of the international community, including the U.S. government, Zelaya is seeking to be reinstated to serve out his term, which ends in January.

The Organization of American States, local representatives of the Catholic Church and others have been meeting with the factions, seeking to negotiate an end to the standoff. But the two sides remain divided over key issues, including whether Zelaya can reassume the presidency before scheduled Nov. 29 elections.

``I said to [Micheletti] that although the United States has taken a heavy hand . . . against him that I think that we're able to get more support for the elections,'' Ros-Lehtinen, the top Republican on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said Monday by telephone.

`OSTRACIZING'

Ros-Lehtinen traveled to Honduras with Miami Republican Reps. Lincoln and Mario Diaz-Balart as part of a fact-finding trip. They are among a number of U.S. lawmakers who oppose Zelaya in large part because he is supported by Venezuela's Chávez.

There's one individual with whom Ros-Lehtinen won't be meeting: Zelaya.

``I feel that he is well represented by every faction that's been involved in ostracizing the Honduran government,'' Ros-Lehtinen said by telephone.``He has a visa to go anywhere he wants. If he wants to go to Paris, there he goes.''

Miami Herald staff writer Trenton Daniel contributed to this report from Miami.

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