Honduran president calls on electorate to vote for peace, democracy

Honduran President Porfirio Lobo Sosa called on voters in Sunday's general election to cast their votes for peace and democracy, as he cast his ballot at a school in the eastern town of Juticalpa. "Everyone go out and vote, we must vote for peace, for democracy," said Lobo, whose four-year term ends at the end of January 2014 and who is barred by the constitution from running for a second term. "We must keep moving forward, and understand that only in peace can we move forward," he stressed. Lobo took office on Jan. 27, 2010, after winning a hastily- called presidential election following a Western-backed military coup that deposed left-leaning former President Manuel Zelaya. Sunday's race basically pits Zelaya's wife Xiomara Castro de Zelaya, of the Liberty and Refoundation Party, against Juan Orlando Hernandez, the candidate of the ruling conservative National Party (PN). Pre-election polls placed the two leading candidates in a virtual dead heat, with 20 to 25 points each. "All the candidates must accept the election outcome, which is the verdict or the mandate of the people," said Lobo. "Failing to do so would be failing to carry out a democratic exercise that we must all undertake." Honduran Armed Forces troops were deployed throughout the country, especially at television and radio transmission stations around the capital of Tegucigalpa, and electric towers. Armed forces chief Rene Osorio said the measure was requested by the National Telecommunications Commission and the National Electric Energy Company. Five people were killed in the department of Gracias a Dios, a few meters from a polling station, in one of the few incidents of violence reported. PN Deputy Maylo Wod said the killings were unrelated to the elections, "because no members of the different political parties were victims of the attack." However, the attack interrupted polling in the area and alarmed local residents, the deputy added. The incident occurred at 6:30 a.m., half an hour before the polls opened, with two of the victims dying at the site and the other three taken to hospital for treatment. Polls are set to close at 4 p.m., though they may be kept open another hour if the Supreme Electoral Court deems it necessary. The media is expected to announce the winners two hours after polls close. Hondurans are also voting for 298 mayors, deputy mayors, local councilors and legislators.