Obama supports return of Zelaya even though Honduran leader ’strongly opposed’ US policies

Obama supports Zelaya even though 2 leaders differ

MOSCOW — President Barack Obama is reiterating his support for efforts to restore Manuel Zelaya to Honduras’ presidency —even as he points out that Zelaya has strongly opposed American policies.

In a speech to Moscow graduates on Tuesday, the president says that’s evidence that the U.S. does not dictate another country’s leaders.

The president said of his support for Zelaya: “We do so not because we agree with him. We do so because we respect the universal principle that people should choose their own leaders, whether they are leaders we agree with or not.”

Zelaya has boarded a plane bound for Washington, where U.S. officials say he will meet with Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton.