TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras (AP) — The administration of President Donald Trump is certifying Honduras' progress in protecting human rights and attacking corruption even as the country struggles with a deepening electoral crisis.
The move comes two weeks after a presidential election, but Hondurans still don't know who won. President Juan Orlando Hernandez narrowly leads in the vote tally, but challenger Salvador Nasralla alleges fraud.
Troops and police units are patrolling in the capital and have been accused of killing and wounding demonstrators. Hernandez has declared a dusk-to-dawn curfew and suspended some constitutional rights to tamp down protests.
If accepted by U.S. congressional appropriations committees, the certifications by U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson would ensure that Honduras receives millions of dollars in U.S. funds that are conditional on progress in human rights and corruption.
© Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.