In Honduras, the winner of last month’s controversial national elections says he wants full political amnesty for all those involved in the coup that overthrew Honduran President Manuel Zelaya last June. On Tuesday, Porfirio Lobo told reporters “there must be an amnesty for all.” His comments came as the Mercosur grouping of South American nations — Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay and Paraguay — issued a declaration along with Venezuela condemning Lobo’s victory as illegal. Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez criticized the US for backing off its stated commitment to restoring Zelaya to office.

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez: “Obama said in Trinidad that he had come to talk about the future. that he didn’t want to talk about the past. But he is supporting the past. He is supporting the past without any form of shame. And following him, sadly and unfortunately, is a group of governments from our own America.”