Reuters first as Honduras’ de facto leader suspends civil liberties and shuts media

Reuters was hours ahead of competitors with the news on Sept. 27 that Honduras’ de facto leader, Roberto Micheletti, had pushed through a decree suspending civil liberties and allowing the government to shut opposition media stations. It closed the stations early the following day, the crackdown was widely condemned and Micheletti came under pressure from the United States, the European Union and the Organization of American States to reverse the measures as part of new efforts to find a negotiated solution to the crisis. He finally lifted the decree on Oct. 5 ahead of a new round of OAS mediation efforts.