New Honduran leader sworn in, urges more US help

[Judi Lynn]

New Honduran leader sworn in, urges more US help
By FREDDY CUEVAS and ALBERTO ARCE
Associated Press
Jan 27, 6:45 PM EST

TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras (AP) -- Conservative Juan Orlando Hernandez was sworn in as president Monday after a speech in which he urged the U.S. to continue support for Honduras' counter-narcotics operations and promised an iron-fist approach on crime.

"Honduras is going through one of the most difficult periods when it comes to security, 80 percent of the drugs heading to the United States go through the country leaving behind death, pain and mourning," Hernandez said.

The 46-year-old lawyer said about 70 percent of homicides are linked to drug trafficking. Honduras had a 2011 homicide rate of 91.6 per 100,000, according to the United Nations.

Hernandez said the U.S. must recognize its responsibility for Honduras' homicide rate, the world's highest for a country not at open war.

More:
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/L/LT_HONDURAS_POLITICS?SECTION=HOME&SITE=AP&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

[Judi Lynn]

1. New Honduras president takes helm, criticizes U.S. drug policy

New Honduras president takes helm, criticizes U.S. drug policy
January 27, 2014 - 19:23
By Gustavo Palencia

TEGUCIGALPA (Reuters) - Honduras' new president, former Congress head Juan Hernandez, took office on Monday, calling U.S. drug policy a "double standard" and urging U.S. President Barack Obama to recognize the joint effort required to end the region's drug scourge.

Hernandez, of the ruling National Party, overcame the wife of ousted former leftist leader Manuel Zelaya in November's disputed presidential election on a pledge to use the military to clean up the blood-soaked country.

Decades of gang warfare, weak institutions and endemic corruption have provided fertile ground for cartels to expand their operations in Honduras, using the country as a pit-stop for United States-bound cocaine.

But in his comments, delivered after being sworn in as president, Hernandez said the United States had not kept up its side of the bargain in the war on drugs, noting that Central America was suffering as a result of U.S. drug consumption.

More:
http://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/news/international/New_Honduras_president_takes_helm,_criticizes_U.S._drug_policy.html?cid=37826448

[bemildred]

2. Yeah, I'll bet he wants more "help".

I wonder if he's freaking out about the weakening of drug prohibition?