Honduras opposition urges foreign help in vote review

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Supporters of Honduras' President Juan Orlando Hernandez took to the streets to show support on Thursday, as his rival Salvador Nasralla called for foreign help in a presidential vote recount amid widespread claims of rigging.

Honduras' election tribunal will re-count 4,753 ballot boxes that have cast a shadow on the results of the country's presidential election, the tribunal chief said on Thursday, bowing to a demand by the Organization of American States (OAS).

The Central American nation of 10 million has plunged into uncertainty punctuated with clashes since the November 26 election pitting Hernandez against leftwing former TV presenter Nasralla, with both sides claiming victory.

Demonstrators walk and wave flags on the street of Tegucigalpa, Honduras on December 7, 2017. /AFP Photo

The president said he welcomed an opposition demand to re-open ballot boxes.

However the opposition has not filed a formal request – and Nasralla on Wednesday, showing deep mistrust for local authorities, called on international observers to carry out the review.

Mexico, Argentina, Colombia and five other Latin American countries said they would support the review. In a joint statement they urged Hondurans to "peacefully await" the results.

Source(s): AFP ,Reuters