Kidnapping puts crisis-bound Honduras on edge

TEGUCIGALPA (AFP) — Assailants kidnapped the father of Honduras' acting defense minister Tuesday in a case that immediately took on political overtones amid a bitter, unresolved political crisis.

The kidnapping of Alfredo Jalil, a wealthy businessman and father of acting deputy defense minister Gabo Jalil, followed by just days the murder of a nephew of the country's de facto leader, Roberto Micheletti.

No evidence has been presented linking either case to the rising political tensions over deadlocked diplomatic efforts to end the crisis set off by the June 28 ouster of President Manuel Zelaya.

But Jalil's wife, who witnessed her husband's kidnapping Tuesday morning, publicly blamed Zelaya, calling on him to "stop generating chaos" and to "order" her husband's release.

Security Ministry spokesman Orlin Cerrato said Jalil was intercepted Tuesday morning as he left his home with his wife, Gloria Mejia de Jalil.

"Two subjects on motorcycle accosted (Alfredo Jalil) and his wife, but they let her go and they took him," said Cerrato, adding that there was no known motive for the abduction.

In Washington, meanwhile, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton announced that she is sending three senior US officials to Honduras on Wednesday, taking a leading role Continue reading the remaining 59% ...