Tegucigalpa, Honduras - A group of 12 indigenous Lenca Indians entered Guatemala's embassy in the Honduran capital Tuesday, demanding political asylum, news reports said. One of the protestors, Salvador Zuniga, said that his people, who are opposed to the ouster of president Manuel Zelaya, were being suppressed by the de-facto government of Roberto Micheletti.
Zuniga is a leader of the Lenca, Honduras' largest group of indigenous people.
Talks between the two opposing government factions were to begin Wednesday in Tegucigalpa under the mediation of foreign ministers from the Organization of American States.
Small-scale protests by Zelaya's supporters followed a decision by interim leader Micheletti to lift a decree limiting freedom of movement and freedom of expression.
Zelaya, who remains holed up in the Brazilian embassy in the capital, expressed his distrust, and dismissed the lifting of the decree as a meaningless gesture.
The international community has refused to recognize the de facto government and has demanded Zelaya's reinstatement.
Micheletti took power on June 28 and wants Zelaya to face court charges for violating the constitution by attempting to force a referendum on changes to the constitution, against the opposition of parliament and the country's supreme court.
The de-facto government refuses Zelaya's reinstatement ahead of the planned November 29 presidential election.
