UN suspends support to Honduran electoral court; says elections there likely won’t be credible

UN suspends support to Honduran electoral court

UNITED NATIONS — U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has suspended technical assistance to Honduras’ electoral court, saying turmoil there means presidential elections scheduled for November will not be credible.

Ban Spokeswoman Michele Montas said the move was temporary, though her Wednesday statement did not say when it might end.

Honduran President Manuel Zelaya was deposed in a coup in June but returned to the country and is holed up in the Brazilian embassy.

U.N. technical aid to the court began in September 2008 and included the training of polling station staff and a quick-count project, as well as gender and public information training.

The total U.N. assistance pledge was $1.3 million.