Honduras News - Daily News about Honduras

New Honduran President Manuel Zelaya promised to stamp out the gang violence that has blighted the country in recent years as he was sworn in on Friday as the leader of Honduras, Central America.

The logging magnate has appointed a former general to head the fight against the “maras,” gangs of often tattooed youths who have gone on a rampage of theft, murder and rape.

“All the policies we talked about on the campaign are going to be carried out. On security, we already have a program under General Alvaro Romero because people are not safe enough,” Zelaya said in his inauguration speech.

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SAN PEDRO SULA, Honduras - Before going to work for the Villatex clothing factory on the outskirts of San Pedro Sula, Jose Tico earned less than $3 a day as a shift worker on Honduran banana, black bean and coffee plantations.

Today the 32-year-old father of two earns around $67 in a four-day work week sewing bra straps for brands like Lovable, Victoria‘s Secret and Vanity Fair in this brightly lighted, air-conditioned factory.

“Working in a maquila is hard work, it‘s very repetitive, but it was much harder when I had to work under the heavy sun,” says Tico, who sews, like the other 600 workers, to the invigorating rhythms of Latin music over the buzz of machines.

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Omoa - San Fernando de Omoa Fort - The massive San Fernando de Omoa fort was built in 1777, during the colonial times. Facing the Caribbean sea, its purpose was to protect the coast and shipments of silver bound from the mines of Tegucigalpa to Spain from the constant attacks of British pirates. For the last century, locals have claimed on hearing firing cannons late at night, coming from the top floor of the fort. Screaming voices of men giving orders and yells of pain have also been reported. In the 1900s search groups have climbed there way to the top of the fort only to find nothing but the view to the sea and the dark night sky.

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Friday Honduras has a new leader, Manuel Zelaya, who is receiving the ceremonial sash at Tegucigalpa´s National Stadium.

Presidents Abel Pacheco (Costa Rica), Oscar Berger (Guatemala) and Elias Antonio Saca (El Salvador), Alvaro Uribe (Colombia), Vicente Fox (Mexico) as well as Felipe de Borbon, Prince of Asturias and personalities from 40 nations are in this capital to attend the inauguration.

Parliament Speaker Roberto Micheletti will invest Zelaya, 53, with the ceremonial sash.

The new president is swearing in his ministerial cabinet Saturday in the stadium.

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