Honduras rebuffs OAS appeal to restore Zelaya to office

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Honduras' Supreme Court has rebuffed a personal appeal from the America's top international diplomat, refusing to restore ousted President Manuel Zelaya before a Saturday deadline.

Jose Miguel Insulza, right, Secretary General the Organization  of American States, OAS, speaks during a news conference in Tegucigalpa, Friday July 3, 2009. Honduras' Supreme Court  rebuffed a personal appeal from Insulza on Friday, refusing  to restore ousted President Manuel Zelaya before a Saturday  deadline.(AP Photo/Eduardo Verdugo)

The head of the Organization of American States, Jose Miguel Insulza flew to Honduras to give the coup-backed government a firm ultimatum. He wants Honduras to restore President Zelaya to office within 24 hours or face crippling sanctions.

Insulza met with Jorge Rivera, the president of the Supreme Court that authorized the military to seize Zelaya on Sunday and fly him into exile. The OAS has also called for an emergency meeting in Washington on Saturday afternoon. Meanwhile, Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega says Zelaya plans to return to Honduras on Sunday.