Micheletti steps aside for Honduras poll

TEGUCIGALPA (AFP) - – Hundreds of Hondurans took to the streets Wednesday to encourage participation in weekend elections after the interim leader briefly stepped down in a bid to legitimize the post-coup polls.

"Honduras free, sovereign, independent," chanted the demonstrators gathered by the Democratic Civic Union (UCD), a group favorable to the de facto government of Roberto Micheletti.

The interim leader, who was propelled to the head of government in the wake of the June 28 military-backed coup that ousted Honduran President Manuel Zelaya, said he was stepping down to "guarantee free, spontaneous and transparent" elections on Sunday.

The demonstrators, mostly dressed in white -- the UCD's color -- waived a huge Honduran flag and released white balloons into the air.

UCD member Jimmy Dacarett said the march leading from the presidential palace to the center of the capital aimed to "encourage men, women and the youth to participated in the 2009 elections, which will without a doubt be a moment of great importance for Hondurans who love this country."

De facto leaders behind Zelaya's ouster hope the elections will turn the page on months of political turbulence that saw several deaths and dozens of arrests under a military crackdown on dissent.

Zelaya's supporters sought to boycott the vote following four months of political crisis, as thousands of security forces pressed on to distribute ballot boxes and order citizens to turn in their weapons ahead of national elections across the impoverished Central American nation.

The cowboy-hatted deposed president remains holed up in the Brazilian embassy after failing to be reinstated before the elections as he had hoped under a US-brokered crisis accord with Micheletti's interim regime.

Micheletti said he would step down through December 2, when Congress is due to vote on Zelaya's return. The Council of Ministers will rule the country in the meantime.

Two explosive devices caused minor damage earlier Wednesday, including one targeting a pro-Micheletti television station, according to police sources cited by local radio.

More than 30 attacks with explosive devices have targeted institutions and media outlets from both sides of the conflict since the June coup, without causing serious damage.