Arias meets Honduras rivals separately

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Talks to resolve the leadership crisis in Honduras got under way on Thursday at the home of Costa Rican President Oscar Arias.

Ousted Honduran President Manuel Zelaya (R) speaks to the media next to Costa Rica's President Oscar Arias after a preliminary meeting in San Jose July 9, 2009.REUTERS/Juan Carlos Ulate

Arias held separate meetings first with the ousted Honduran president Manuel Zelaya then with Roberto Micheletti, the interim president installed by the country's Congress.

Zelaya spoke to reporters after the meeting with Arias.Manuel Zelaya, Ousted Honduran President, said, "We believe we've been consistent with Honduras' position, which is the re-establishment of the rule of law, the re-establishment of democracy and the re-establishment, as requested by the OAS and the UN, of the legitimate Honduran president, elected by the people, which is me."

Zelaya left before the arrival of interim president Micheletti, his former friend and political ally.

Micheletti, for his part, insisted that Zelaya must relinquish any claim to the presidency. He insisted he is the rightful leader of the country.